Roman and medieval jewellery unearthed by archaeologists at Orbit Homes development in Stonham Aspal

Archaeologists working in partnership with affordable housebuilder, Orbit Homes, at its new Homestead Park development in Stonham Aspal recently discovered jewellery from the Iron Age, Roman and medieval times.

The exciting discovery was made by Pre-Construct Archaeology (PCA) during pre-construction excavations for 46 new homes. Finds included a medieval gold ring, silver coins from the same era and over 40 Iron Age and Roman brooches in a substantial discovery for a site of this size. A rare First Century AD copper-alloy vessel was also recovered.

11 Late Iron Age to Roman roundhouses are believed to have once stood on the site, with their earliest occupation suggested to be around 50BC. Homestead Park is one of few examples in the region where such a concentration of roundhouses dating to this period has been discovered.

It is believed that the use of the site was predominantly tied to agriculture with evidence of its early use for arable farming and livestock.

Andy Georgiou, Sales and Marketing Director at Orbit Homes, said: “It has been amazing to learn more about the history of Stonham Aspal from the discoveries at Homestead Park. We enlisted PCA as part of the pre-construction programme we undertake at every site and we were delighted to see the archaeologists unearth such fascinating finds, which could have otherwise been left undiscovered for many more years.”

With the excavation now complete, works are underway on Homestead Park’s collection of two and three bedroom houses and bungalows. The first homes are available for purchase off plan via market sale or Shared Ownership from Orbit Homes’ sales office at Brook Gardens in Elmswell, and are set to be ready in spring 2025.

Properties at Homestead Park will feature Orbit Homes’ all-inclusive specification, which includes air source heat pumps, ground floor underfloor heating, Amtico flooring and carpet throughout, turf to rear gardens and integrated kitchen appliances.

Homestead Park is situated in the charming, rural village of Stonham Aspal, well-served with transport links to Stowmarket, Bury St Edmunds, Ipswich, Cambridge, Norwich and London. The village itself offers residents all the enjoyment to be found at the Stonham Barns leisure and retail park, local amenities including a Post Office and primary school, as well as the village hall.

At Homestead Park prices for a Shared Ownership home start at £104,000 for a 40% share of a two-bed house, £128,000 for a 40% share of a two-bed bungalow and £150,000 for a 40% share of a three-bed bungalow. Prices for market sale homes start at £338,000 for a two-bed bungalow and £395,000 for a three-bed bungalow.

To find out more about the properties on offer at Homestead Park and to make an enquiry, click here: www.orbithomes.org.uk/homestead-park

Picture caption: A first look at what the bungalows at Orbit Homes’ Homestead Park in Stonham Aspal will look like.

Picture caption: Over 40 Iron Age and Roman brooches were found at the Stonham Aspal site.