Monument record 726/0/60 - Romano-British Building, 147 Watling Street

Archaeological evaluation found parts of three stone walls with an associated floor indicating the presence of a Roman building, while later postholes suggest it was replaced by a timber structure.

{1} An archaeological evaluation was carried out on land proposed for an extension at 147 Watling Street.

A wall, aligned north-east to south-west, was c.1.4m wide and of limestone bonded with a light brown-grey clay. There was evidence for facing stones on the outer wall surface, however many of the larger facing stones appear to have been robbed. Small rubble stones formed the core. The foundation cut into the alluvium below, whilst a series of floor surfaces abutted the northern face of the wall.

A further wall was aligned parallel to the first and c.6m to the north. Only its rubble core survived thus reducing its width to c.0.6m. Evidence of clay bonding also survived. A c.1.5m wide foundation trench for the wall was noted on its south side. A possible third parallel wall was noted 1m to the south of the second wall. It was 1m wide and again only the core survived.

A section was cut revealing a series of three floor surfaces, the lowest of yellow clay with a dull red burnt upper surface; overlying this was a layer of silty clay with small limestone fragments and Roman amphora sherds placed flat over the floor surface. Above this was the upper yellow clay floor level, again with a dull red burnt surface.

Overlying the floors was a demolition layer c.0.15m thick, containing ironstone fragments, considerable amounts of Roman pottery, iron slag and fragments of lead. Cut into this demolition layer were four postholes, all containing packing stones. Two were sectioned and found to be steep-sided with a flat base. They ranged in size from 0.49-0.60m in diameter x 0.15-0.28m deep. One contained Roman pottery. The late C1st to C3rd AD building was demolished and superseded by a post-built structure. The function of this structure is uncertain, however finds may indicate that metal working was taking place in the vicinity.

At the east end of the trench was a small patch of limestone rubble on the edge of a dark alluvial layer. This was sectioned and may represent the edge of another, unexcavated feature. Finds included a piece of lead and pottery dating from the C15th to C16th.

A possible stone wall exposed during earlier excavations to the south-west of the site may be a continuation of the building as it is on the same alignment.

<1> Foard-Colby A., 2006, Archaeological Evaluation, 147 Watling Street, Towcester, Northamptonshire, Jul-Aug 2006, p.2-3+10 (checked) (Report). SNN105823.

Record last edited

Jun 18 2021 2:55PM