Possible site of Roman settlement and cemetery, Holme Farm, Bulphan Fen (EHER 5215)

A probable Romano British settlement with a cemetery and pits. Many cinerary urns were found. Rubbish pits present and animal bones. A flint arrowhead was found. The exact location of the site is disputed.

Romano British burials found in 1858. <1> In 1858 labourers trenching on Holme Farm found pottery, animal bones and charcoal. Said to have been 'found in shallow, rounded excavations full of black earth, which were regular and almost equidistant in some parts of the 16 acres which they covered'. Pits were circular or oblong but difficult to trace. They varied in size from 10-40ft in circumference. One was 60ft long x 20ft across. 'One of the fields in which remains were found was called Ruin Field'. <3> <4> The NGR given by the VCH (<3>) is probably approximate. No trace of 'Ruin Field'. <1> The OS card refers to features as 'beds of dark soil'. Regular arrangement and urn sherds seem to indicate a cemetery. The animal bones were horse, deer, boar etc. No human bones were found. Much of the earth and many of the stones and wood pieces had marks of burning. Part of a quern stone was also found and the pottery included some Samian but no coins or metal. The pottery and most of the bones were in small pieces. Other OS card entries refer to the site as a settlement and to the pits as rubbish pits. Siting regarded as inexact . <5> See also <6> <7>. NRHE data transfer, 414124: In the Spring of 1858 a number of beds of dark soil were discovered in trenching some fields belonging to Holme Farm, forming part of a large tract of land called 'Bulphen Fen' and situated about a mile and a half west of the village of North Ockendon. The discoveries were made in 'Ruin Field', adjoining a meadow called the 'Church Field', and extended over 16 acres. The regular arrangement of the lines of dark soil in many parts, and the many fragments of cinerary urns found in nearly all of them seems to indicate a cemetery. Some of the graves appear to be circular, from 10 to 40ft. in circumference and others to be of an oblong form; one grave is much larger than the rest and is about 60ft. by 20ft. generally they are about 3ft. deep, narrow at the bottom and widening to the surface. The pottery varied greatly in quality; a few small pieces of Samian ware were found; mingled with the pottery were animal bones - the horse, deer, boar etc., but no human bones; much of the earth, stones and pieces of wood bore the marks of fire; beyond these there was nothing found, except part of a flint arrowhead and part of a hand mill stone. No coins or metal were found. All the pottery and most of the bones were in small pieces distributed throughout the filling. Indications of Romano-British settlement at Bulphan Fen. Rubbish pits found over an area of 16 acres. <4> May 1953. Field visit. No further information gained during fieldwork. Area not perambulated owing to advanced crops. <8> [Reference to <4>] 'For Holmes Farm read Home Farm (1959) which is situated 1 1/2 miles East of North Ockendon. Map ref:- TQ 615851. A visit to this farm confirmed the field name 'Churchfield'. The Farmer, proved to be unco-operative I have informed Mr. K. Marshall of the West Ham Museum and I am hoping that he will be able to investigate further'. <9> The siting still remains inexact Mr Barr's map reference (<5>) is apparently to Home Farm and not to Churchfield. Although Home Farm falls on 88NW the reference to Bulphen Fen (<4>) suggests that the site is one of the fields to the north-west of the Fen on 88NE Inspection of the Tithe Map might give more precise information. <10> NRHE data transfer, 414139: Alleged burials in 'Ruin Field', Home Farm, found in 1858. <11> Roman burial ground covering about 16 acres, with many fragments of cinerary urns. A number of burials were found during the trenching of fields belonging to Holme Farm. Human bones together with pottery, charcoal and animal bones were recovered. The graves varied in size from about 10 to 40 ft in circumference and appear to have been circular in form. One burial however was larger and of a rectangular form. The associated pottery was mainly of a poor quality but a few sherds of Samian were found. No coins and no fragments of metal were discovered. <12> <13>