Monument record 0002500000 - 'TWO SHIRES', SPRIGG'S ALLEY

DURING REPAIRS TO DRIVE, 2M FROM FOUNDATION LINE OF HOUSE, NECK OF ROMAN PITCHER FOUND. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED CREMATION IN REMAINS OF CASKET, WITH GLASS BOWL & FLAGON, PITCHER & MORE THAN 9 SAMIAN VESSELS. NO FURTHER SIGNS OF BURIALS OR BUILDING IN AREA (B1-3).
POSSIBLY FORMER MOUND (B4).
A single trench north-east of Batt Hall identified no archaeological features. A layer of redepositesd clay sealed a buried garden layer which was similar to the current topsoil. This may represent landscaping during the construction of Batt Hall (B11).

(SU76579835) Roman Burial (site of). (B12)

A Roman burial discovered early in 1923 at Sprigg Alley (SU 766 982), close to the Oxfordshire border.

The site in the grounds of the house called 'Two Shires Yew', was discovered during excavations to repair the drive.

The most important find was a pillar moulded blue glass bowl, probably made in Roman or Alexandria during the latter half of the 1st C. Other finds included a glass jug, nine Samian dishes and various bronze and iron objects. The apparent remains of a casket, possibly of wood, contained fragments of burnt bone.

The entire collection was presented to the British Museum by the owner of the property, Mr W Gordon Ross. (B12)

The meadow was quite flat prior to the building of the house in about 1906. (B13)

No further information. (B14)

Insert 1997, Update 1999 (B16).