Monument record 0078400000 - BOURTON GROUNDS

Plan Form - SQUARE
TEMPLE, CONSISTING OF CELLA 17FT SQ, WITHIN PORTICO 53FT SQ, WITH FORE-BUILDINGS; NO VISIBLE TEMENOS. ERECTED C.AD 265, WENT OUT OF USE (DEMOLISHED?) EARLY C5 (B1).
CLOSE TO ROMAN ROADS, FORD, CEMETERY & BARROWS (CASS 0177, 0782). SITE LOCATION PRESUMED TO BE WHERE DENSE TILE SCATTER FOUND (B3).



Excavations at Bourton Grounds, Buckingham from 1962-64 revealed two Romano-British buildings. A Romano-Celtic temple at SU 72923311 consisting of a cella 17ft square, set within a portico 53ft square, with a porch and fore buildings. A large number of coins ranging from the 3rd to 5thc were found on the floor surface of the cella, indicating votive use during that period. NW of the temple at SP 72893312 lay a detached barn-like structure running N-S; 45ft long, it had two rows of posts forming a nave 18ft wide, with narrow aisles. Only the south end of the building had been lived in, and amongst the occupation "debris" were 3rd-4thc potsherds, part of a "rod-bow" brooch and one or two Constantine coins. Subsequent ploughing made it clear that this building was one of a series, ranging E to W overlooking a courtyard facing the temple. See plans. (B1 and B2).
SP 729332 Excavations in advance of road construction in the vicinity of two known Ro barrows (SP 73 SW 1) and a temple, revealed a gravel track associated with building platforms and a well preserved minor road with clay and limestone agger; the latter probably contemporary with the temple. Beneath heavy river silting a sequence of ditches and gullies was exposed, two of which enclosed seven urned cremation burials with accompanying vessels, frequently Samian Dr 36 (B9).
This area is now under pasture and the only evidence of occupation found was a vague parch mark in area SP 72923311 presumably the site of the Temple. One of the principal features of the 1972 excavation, centred at SP 72883316 was the convergence of Roman roads and trackways. Excavation plans held by Aylesbury Museum show a substantial clay and limestone 3rd century road located in a W-E direction from SP 72893315 to SP 72993318, where it joins a similar road running N-S located from SP 72993319 to SP73003317. (See field reports, RR 162, 166 & 174). Definite evidence of a ford was found at SP 72933316. None of these features are visible now. Details of minor trackways and associated timber structures are not yet available, and await a full excavation report expected in 'Records of Bucks' in 1975. The complexity of Roman occupation in the vicinity of Thornborough bridge does not as yet imply a settlement. Mr M Farley (b13), county archaeologist, states that a religious complex centred on the temple is indicated. Details plotted from site excavation plans at 1:2500 (B10).
Excavations were carried out on the east side of the river on the course of the new road and bridge. The third century ford, identified in 1972 on the west of the river, was here sealed beneath 2m of river silt and in an excellent state of preservation with a surface of limestone blocks and chippings on an agger of clay. Three large upright timbers, 0.3m in diameter and approximately 2m long, were found south of the ford. Approximately 2m apart they formed a rough equilateral triangle and could represent bridge foundations at least as early as the ford, but no dateable features were found in association with them. A probe and resistivity survey was carried out beneath the line of the new road embankment and the course of the third-century road established for over 50m to the east where a junction was located with a metalled surface running north-south and parallel to the river. From both surfaces a quantity of horse-shoes, horse-shoes nails, and also third to fourth century coins were recovered (B11).
Full excavation report published in 1975 (B12).
In 1981, a Bronze Figurine of Isis, of C2-C3 date, was discovered on the footpath near the temple (B7).

This record includes National Record of the Historic Environment Information provided by Historic England on 4 June 2025 licensed under the Open Government Licence.