Monument record 726/25 - Roman settlement site

{1}Excavations in 1954 on the Sponne School site identified simple timber built rectilinear buildings constructed in the middle of the second century AD under and to the east of the later ramparts (Site D on Figure 3). Swept away by the construction of the towns defences these buildings may have been workshops or sheds behind buildings on a main frontage facing on to the Kings Sutton road to the south.

{2}The boxes inside the town defences uncovered a sequence of timber and masonry buildings. Those retain the same alignment throughout. Their alignment is slightly askew to Watling Street and although set back from the road they relate better to the Brackley Road. If these buildings were laid out to face the Brackley road then a courtyard can be inferred. This could apply if Watling Street was the determining factor but in this case a more modest winged plan could fit the known facts equally well.

Alexander J., 1954, Towcester Grammar School Site, 1954 (Slides). SNN111532.

<1> Taylor J.; Foard G.; Laughton J.; Steadman S.; Ballinger J., 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Towcester, Section 3.3.2 (Report). SNN103132.

<2> Brown A.E.; Alexander J.A., 1982, Excavations at Towcester 1954: The Grammar School Site, p.29 (checked) (Article). SNN102436.

Record last edited

Jul 10 2019 2:30PM