Monument record 726/2 - Alchester Road Suburb

Excavation of the Roman Towcester-Alchester road uncovered various phases of the road and later Roman stone buildings which appear to partially overlie it. This area appears to have been an industrial zone; an Iron Age settlement was found.

{3} (SP 690480). The line of the Towcester-Alchester road was explored for a length of 500m. The road was shown to be mainly 8-10m wide and 15cm thick with a varying number of side ditches, mostly 2 on the south side and 3 on the north side. No solid dating material was recovered but probably c.2nd century AD. Opposite the workshop discovered in 1974, on the northern side lay another ditch overlying a clay pit and silted up roadside ditch. Portions of the stone floor of the hut identified was found to incorporate reused stone.

{4} At (SP 690479) a further 600sq.m of this site was stripped during 1976, west of the area examined in 1975 and immediately north of Towcester-Alchester road. Three phases of roadside ditch were identified, over which a stone floor had been laid. The floor was probably of a turf walled building with which lead production may have been associated. To the north of this possible workshop was a yard containing up to 50 rubbish pits. This industrial activity is dated to c.4th century.

{7} Excavations in advance of housing development from 1974 to 1976 led to the discovery of more industrial structures aligned along the Roman road. On the W. side (SP 69004799) was a circular building 14 m. in diam., defined on its W. side by a gully; it contained a hearth. It was overlaid by a rectangular building with a stone floor, containing reused sculptured stones, two of which formed post bases in the interior. Facing it across the road (SP 69044798) was another circular building, defined by a gully 7 m. in diam, with opposed entrances. The E. entrance, which overlay a well-preserved wooden culvert, led via a wooden corduroy track of three phases to a pond fed by a series of ditches, likewise of three phases. The hut contained three hearths and the finds, which included a complete pewter dish, indicate lead and pewter working. Both structures were linked to the road by means of stone causeways. Further S., on the W. side of the road (SP 68984795), was another probably rectangular building with a stone floor, containing a furnace, also associated with lead working. To the N.E. of this was a large sand pit marked off from the road by a wooden fence. The abundant coins indicate a date of 315–360 for this industrial activity. Observation in 1977 during the construction of houses in this area noted further round and rectangular buildings, pits and ditches, with much pottery and many coins indicating a date range from the Antonine period to the 4th century. There was also evidence of iron-working.

{9} From 1968 to 1978 a series of three separate rescue excavations and and observations was conducted over an area of c5.7ha. The Alchester Road was initially laid out towards the end of the 1st century. About 170AD a series of ditched plots were laid out along both sides of the road and buildings or timber or cob set within the plots. There is evidence of iron-working. Around 330AD a new set of ditched enclosures were set out and buildings erected in the plots. The buildings initially seemed to be D-shaped which were replaced by buildings of stylobate or post pad construction, often re-using architectural masonry of high quality. Where necessary the buildings were approached from the road by causeways across the road side ditches. There was abundant evidence of lead and iron working at this date; possibly also the working of pewter and the manufacture of irregular small change.

{10} (SP 690480). A watching brief produced the following features: Ditches and gullies of an Iron Age farmstead, around 3rd BC and ditches with channel bottoms early Roman date. A series of Roman ditches containing Constantinian coins of 3rd and early 4th century. Ditches associated with the Alchester road. Ephemeral stone buildings, early-mid 3rd century and mid 4th century, some with stone floors. In the later hut a collection of three coins (date 268-270 AD - Claudius), were found under a stylobate. Shallow features similar to corn driers, but perhaps associated with metal working in the mid 4th century. There were a lot of evidence for ironworking on the site. A number of huts were recovered, all undated but a least two contained evidence for an industrial function.
A vast amount of pottery was recovered during the excavation also a shale bead and a number of coins (date range 196-198 and perhaps as late as 375).

{15} Lead bar found in 1974 at the end of the bar was a possible numeral, `V', proceeded by a single chisel stroke set at an angle and therefore probably not part of the same numeral.

<1> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1973, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1972, p. 17 (Journal). SNN8956.

<2> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1975, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1974, 10/163 (Report). SNN41605.

<3> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1976, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1975, 11/194 (Journal). SNN169.

<4> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1977, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1976, 12/215 (Report). SNN723.

<5> MOPBW EXCAVATIONS, 1967, ANNUAL EXCAVATION REPORT (1966), 16 (unchecked) (Report). SNN60081.

<6> 1987, British Archaeological Reports (BAR 169), p.133-4 (unchecked) (Series). SNN11534.

<7> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.154/Site 3 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<8> Taylor J.; Foard G.; Laughton J.; Steadman S.; Ballinger J., 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Towcester, Section 3.3.4 (unchecked) (Report). SNN103132.

<9> Brown AE, Woodfield C, 1983, Excavations at Towcester, Northamptonshire: the Alchester Road Suburb, p. 43-140 (Article). SNN104558.

<10> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1978, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1977, 184 (Journal). SNN2192.

<11> Woodfield, C, Various, Abbey Homesteads site, Towcester (Notes). SNN111323.

<12> Burnham B.C.; Wacher J., 1990, The 'Small Towns' of Roman Britain, 152-8+160 (unchecked) (Book). SNN60720.

<13> Brown, A.E., 1974-6, St Lawrence Road, Towcester (Alchester Road suburbs) (Slides). SNN111531.

<14> BRANIGAN K., 1985, The Catuvellauni, 89-91 (checked) (Book). SNN60083.

<15> 1983, Roman Britain in 1982: Sites explored, p. 345 (Note). SNN115376.

Record last edited

Aug 16 2023 12:06PM