New Forest’s lost Roman village yields Stonehenge link as developer Cala Homes reveals dig finds at Knightwood Chase in Fordingbridge

Archaeologists have unearthed evidence of life stretching back to the time of Stonehenge’s construction at a New Forest site where nearly 200 homes are being built.

Neolithic pottery has been discovered, along with later Iron Age and Roman settlements in what is presumed to be the original Fordingbridge, before it was abandoned.

As reported by the A&T, the cost of the archaeological survey for Cala Homes’ Knightwood Chase development had rocketed from a budgeted £53,000 to more than £1m as evidence of the previously unknown 2,000-year-old Roman village emerged.

Its estimated period of 200BC to 200AD is the same as the 40-room Rockbourne Roman villa complex with its museum nearby.

Now, because its archaeological costs have soared, Cala has applied to New Forest District Council to change the application and build some of the 198 homes larger for a higher return to recover its outlay.

Initial trenching uncovered archaeological significance in an area covering less than 10% of the development, with the expanding dig uncovering evidence of a village occupied over 400 years from its origins as an Iron Age settlement to the Roman period.

A prior ancient settlement on the site, which yielded the oldest pottery finds, was later destroyed by the Iron Age village.

Cala has revealed there were some 20 buildings in the main settlement, with traces uncovered over several months since early spring this year in archaeological work funded by the developer and now nearing completion.

The village, occupied some 2,000 years ago, from 200BC to 200AD, was abandoned as the population likely moved to establish their hub in the centre of modern day Fordingbridge, according to Duncan Hawkins, operations director at RPS which is carrying out the archaeological work.

“On this site, we have found evidence of a previously unknown late Iron Age and Roman village,” he said. “The archaeological excavations have identified the remains of over 20 buildings and associated features such as bread ovens, storage and rubbish pits.

“Evidence of droveways for cattle or sheep and ditched enclosures show that this was a farming community. Finds from the site show extensive trading links between the site and Europe including significant quantities of imported Roman pottery.

“The site, which is located on a gravel promontory with rivers on three sides, was abandoned around 200 AD and it is probable that settlement then shifted to what is now central Fordingbridge.

“The findings are locally important and fit with an emerging pattern that late Iron Age and early Roman Britain were significantly more densely populated than previously thought.”

With excavation and logging of key items now concluding, archaeological work is moving off-site where findings will be modelled and published, and artefacts put in storage will be handed over to a local museum.

Mr Hawkins added: “Developer-funded archaeological investigations like this have in recent years transformed our understanding of Britain’s history. Cala has followed best practice processes throughout and enabled us to undertake thorough investigations.”

Cala Homes Thames land and planning director John Richards said archeological finds were a “common occurrence” in such developments.

“Our pre-construction assessments found potential archaeological significance in an area covering around 10% of the overall development.

“This is a common occurrence, and we have followed strict legislation to ensure we handle these findings appropriately, in close collaboration with New Forest District Council’s archaeological officer.

“We’ve worked with an experienced archaeology team to fully explore the development and assess the artefacts found, a process which has taken several months and will very soon conclude, before taking many more months to complete off-site.

“At that stage our archaeological partners will be able to publish their complete findings.”

He added: “Throughout the process, our priority has been to maintain the safety and security of the development, while facilitating the archaeological investigations.

“At this final stage, all further archaeological works and investigations are taking place off-site, with findings being documented accordingly. Works on site are very nearly complete and the site has been mostly handed back to the construction team.”

The development will create more than half the site as new public open space including play areas, new pedestrian and cycle routes and over six hectares of recreational greenspace.

Each property will include environmentally friendly features such as solar panels and electric vehicle charging points – and just possibly traces of a Roman nature in the garden.

Meanwhile, Fordingbridge Town Council has objected to Cala Homes’ application to change its application.

In a document submitted to NFDC, it says one of the reasons members objected to the original application was because the density of housing "consistent with an urban development, rather than a rural market town close to a national park".

The council adds: "This application for a variation increases the density on this site and this brings with it associated traffic and parking issues and will adversely impact the character of the development."