Roman settlement and field system near Copse Hall, Haverhill Bypass route (EHER 17011)

A Roman settlement in the vicinity of Copse Hall has long been suspected and the Roman coins and pottery recovered from the road line to the north of Copse Hall lend support to this theory.

1996. Excavations and surveys. Monitoring during construction of the Bypass recovered twelve sherds of Roman pottery from the area immediately north of Copse Hall. A number of Roman artefacts recovered by metal detectorists, included a bronze brooch (Colchester derivative, double pierced lug type) of 1st century date, a bronze bracelet fragment of 3rd to 4th century date and Roman coins of 1st to 4th century date. Part excavation of some features recorded along the road line did not recover any finds by which to date them. It is suggested that some of the ditches could form part of the field systems recorded adjacent to Sturmer barrow. Site Assessment = A Roman settlement in the vicinity of Copse Hall has long been suspected and the Roman coins and pottery recovered from the road line to the north of Copse Hall lend support to this theory. <1>