Although there was no habitation at Barnby until the first millennium AD there is evidence to show that man was active in the area during the Bronze (2500-700BC) and Iron (700BC-43AD) Ages. A ‘henge’, a large circular enclosure, is located at East Stoke south west of Newark. Furthermore, a Bronze Age cremation urn and a polished stone axe head were found at Coddington and are on display in Newark Museum. During the Iron Age Newark and the surrounding area was part of the tribal territory of the ‘Coritani’. An Iron Age coin or ‘staler’ of this tribe was found at Claypole. The ancient Sewstern Way existed during this period. It ran from Sewstern, south of Grantham in Leicestershire, through Allington and Foston across to Newark.
Following the Roman invasion of Britain, a Roman road was developed, initially along the same track as the Sewstern Way before heading north, passing through Claypole and crossing the Witham through a ford at Barnby. The road continued along the line of Long Lane and met the Fosse Way at Potter Hill, the site of a Roman villa. A further Roman road is still visible on Ordnance Survey maps heading towards Collingham from the site of the villa. Nearby at Brough was the major Fosse Way settlement of ‘Crococolana’. As the Roman road through Barnby did not veer towards this settlement, but headed directly toward Potters Hill, it was possibly used by traffic to and from the pottery. A further Roman settlement ‘Ad Pontem’ existed at Thorpe south east of Newark, and there was a Roman villa at Norton Disney.
A Roman 'dolphin' brooch of tin plated bronze, circa 50-150 AD, was found by Mr James Vessey in May 1953. It was found in a field known locally as 'Hilly Woods', a large irregular field immediately east of the River Witham from the Barnby, south south east of Barnby Hall . Although the hinge and pin are missing, it is well preserved and is on display at Newark Museum.
Additionally, a Roman bronze coin was found in Barnby by Mr J Vessey in 1956. It was, perhaps, made in the 4th Century.
Photographs courtesy of Newark Museum
Last updated: 10 February 2001