Probable Roman cremation burial, Notley Place (EHER 6425)

A 1st century Romano British cremation burial accompanied by pottery was found in 1752 during gravel digging in the parish of Black Notley.

In 1753, a group of objects was exhibited to the Society of Antiquaries by Gustavus Bender, who stated that they had been found in gravel-digging in a field belonging to William Rayment, within about 0.25 miles of Braintree and about 10 rods from the road. The objects included Samian ware, a fluted pateral handle with a ram's head terminal, another bronze vessel crushed by a pick-axe, two glass vessels, and two fragments of a vessel of ash-coloured clay with brown glaze thereon. They are clearly the grave goods from a rich Roman cremation burial of 1st century date. The site cannot be identified with certainty, but the only gravel pit shown on the Tithe Map of Black Notley (of around 1840) is that indicated as the site of this find (i.e. indicated in <1>). <1> - <9> NRHE data transfer: Fragments of pottery with red glaze, others with brown glaze, a broken bronze vessel and handle of another ending in a ram's head, a vessel of blue glass and fragments of another, were found in 1752, at a depth of three feet while gravel digging. The site was in the parish of Black Notley (now apparently Braintree and Bocking) 1/4 mile from Braintree, 10 rods from the highway. (West of Skitt's Hill is suggested by VCH). <3> <9> May 1975. Field survey. Finds were exhibited at Society of Antiquaries in 1753. Unable to verify site. Gravel workings not shown in this area on Tithe Map. Site not known locally. <2> <10> See also <11>.