Roman field system, Barrington's Farm, Orsett Cock (EHER 5222)

Archaeological excavation in 1983 recorded a Roman ditch which ran parallel to, and to the south of the southern side of the Orsett Cock enclosure (EHER 1859) which was interpreted as a field boundary ditch. To the south, other ditches are visible as cropmarks, parallel with and perpendicular to this ditch and forming a field system or an enclosure. The cropmark extends to the north-east but is more difficult to trace.

1983. Watching brief and archaeological excavations. Cropmarks and other features excavated before the A13 dualling, east of the Orsett 'Cock' enclosure. Excavated features included some cropmarks already recorded. "The south east corner of the Roman enclosure was uncovered. Apart from a small field boundary no features were found to be contemporary with it". <1> <2> <3> A small area was stripped to reveal the south-east corner of the Orsett Cock enclosure (EHER 1859). A ditch ran SW-NE parallel to, and to the south of the southern side of the Orsett Cock enclosure. It was approximately 1.6m wide, 0.5m deep and was previously sectioned in 1957 west of the old Brentwood road. From its dimensions it can probably be interpreted as a field boundary ditch. It produced 1st to 2nd century Roman pottery and one late Roman sherd, probably intrusive. An aerial photograph of 1946 suggests that this ditch turns southward near the south west corner of the enclosure. To the south, other ditches are visible parallel with and perpendicular to this ditch, forming a field system or an enclosure. The cropmark of the ditch north-eastward is more difficult to trace, but it appears to continue up to 200m east of the Orsett Cock enclosure. This field system may include two other linear cropmarks east of the enclosure which run NW-SE, out of alignment with the more obvious medieval/ post-medieval rectilinear system aligned with Brentwood and Stamford roads. A small circular pit or posthole, 0.4m in diameter, 0.2m deep, contained large numbers of burnt fragments of puddingstone quern of Iron Age or Roman date. No other dating evidence was found. <4> For aerial photograph references see EHER 1858 and EHER 5218. See aerial photographs <5> <6> See also <7>. Original HER entry merged with NRHE data transfer. Note: The existing polygon has been increased to the north to include several linear cropmarks on the NMP cropmark plot which are on the same alignment as the main feature discussed. These may be recorded already as cropmarks in EHER 5191.