Roman Remains at Downing Court, Swaffham Bulbeck, Cambridgeshire

Between the 20th and 24th January, 2004 an archaeological evaluation was undertaken at Downing Court, Swaffham Bulbeck. (NGR TL5551 6256) by staff of the Archaeological Field Unit (AFU) of Cambridgeshire County Council. The proposed development involved the construction of 20 new dwellings. The work was carried out in accordance with a Brief for an archaeological evaluation issued by Kasia Gdaniec of the Cambridgeshire County Council Archaeological Service (Planning Application No H/100/1854FUL). The evaluation revealed a number of Roman post holes, pits and ditches. Significant stratigraphy was revealed in the western end of Trench 3 with a group of pits truncating an earlier field boundary. The ditches uncovered in Trench 3 may be continuations of those noted in Trench 2.
Roman building material and metal work was found in the topsoil and in features. The recovery of box flue tiles and tegulae suggest the presence of a significant Roman building in the vicinity. A copper alloy artefact (recovered by metal detecting) may also indicated the status of the site.
Following the evaluation a geophysical survey was carried out which showed a range of anomalies across the site. Theses anomalies were examined (as far as possible) during the monitoring of subsequent groundworks.
The results of all three stages of work (evaluation, geophysical survey and archaeological investigation) suggest that there is a Roman villa or farmstead in the vicinity.