Fleet Marston Roman Settlement

Minor Settlement

This suspected settlement lies in open fields and is evidenced by a large spread of surface finds including fragments of tiles and tegulae, building-stones and pottery ranging from the 2nd to 4th centuries. The finds extend over an area of almost 35 acres (c.14 ha). The O.S. records that in 1941 a quantity of Roman material was removed from the site by the landowner.

Excavations carried out between 2007 and 2016 uncovered evidence for a late prehistoric territorial boundary, a middle Iron Age settlement and the agricultural hinterland of the putative nucleated Roman settlement of Fleet Marston. The latter included a “remarkable collection” of organic finds, included four hen’s eggs (one of which survived excavation intact), leather shoes, wooden tools and a basketry tray made of woven oak bands and willow rods, in addition to evidence of malting and brewing, other roadside trades and crafts, burials and a possible pyre site.

References for Fleet Marston

  • Historical Map and Guide – Roman Britain by the Ordnance Survey (3rd, 4th & 5th eds., 1956, 1994 & 2001);
  • Roadside Settlements in Lowland Roman Britain by Roger Finch Smith (B.A.R. British Series #157, 1987) p.235.
  • Berryfields: Iron Age Settlement and a Roman Bridge, Fieldsystem and settlement along Akeman Street nearFleet Marston, Buckinghamshire

Map References for Fleet Marston

NGRef: SP7715 OSMap: LR165

Roman Roads near Fleet Marston

WNW (13) to Alchester (Oxfordshire) ESE (11) to North Chvrch (Hertfordshire)

Sites near Fleet Marston Roman Settlement