Before 425 CE
The place we have called Warmington for about fourteen hundred years has probably been occupied for over 3,000 years. Evidence of early occupation, even if it was only transient in nature, is quite common in the area. The archaeological investigations carried out prior to the building of the by-pass in 1996 provided a wealth of information and several very important finds. These combined with previous finds and investigations, suggest there were Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman settlements in the immediate vicinity.
Among the earliest finds are two bronze palstaves (a form of chisel) found in the churchyard and, perhaps the most important, a Beaker Burial discovered near to Mill House where the new road runs down passed the new Elton Boat Club House to the Mill. The body dates from around 1,000 BC and was buried with a flint knife, several arrowheads, jet buttons and an ornate pottery beaker. These burials are not uncommon and have also been found in other villages along the Nene Valley.
Five ring ditches, several series of liner ditches and a number of settlements have been located around the village including a large complex that straddles the A605 in the area where the new by-pass starts at the north of the village.
Most of the features were revealed as crop marks and recorded in aerial photographs of the area. Finds made within the complex include a flint axe and other flint tools. The complex is bisected by the line of the Roman Road that ran from Irchester to Water Newton.
Evidence of Roman settlements have been found in three locations around the village. West of Warmington finds of Roman pottery, roof tiles, coins and oyster shells were made in 1962. To the south near the parish boundary with Tansor, Roman finds of pottery, tiles and stone rubble have been made. Near to the deserted village of Papley, Roman finds have included, pottery, tiles, limestone rubble and two pieces of fire-bars probably from a kiln.