Monument record 726/3/3 - Inhumations, likely Roman

The discovery of two skeletons in 1976/7 during observation of a flood scheme indicates a possible Roman cemetery associated with the Roman town of Lactodorum.

{1} An area adjacent to the main settling tank of the pumping station was opened up and pumping enabled the north-west and south-west faces to be inspected and cleaned down. An undated ditch running parallel to Watling Street was found, as well as a wide U-shaped pit in which two crania and various disturbed lower limb bones were found- apparently burials in situ of which the contractors excavation had removed the rest of the bodies-laid on an east - west axis.

{2} SP 69564854. Two skeletons noted in 1976/7 during observation of the flood scheme, presumably indicating a cemetery outside the defended area of the town.

{4} A record was made here in 1976 in the edges of a large excavation for pumping station works settling tank. An apparently later Antonine saucer-shaped wet ditch, at least 2.04m wide and 0.5m deep was identified. Its course at this point was at right angle to the stream. It clipped burials with associated Antonine Samian, so could not have been earlier than Antonine. Not clear what it represents.

<1> Woodfield, C., 1976?, Towcester- Anglian Water Authority Sewer Trench, February to October 1976, p. 3 (Uncertain). SNN51901.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 156/Site 3w (Series). SNN77382.

<3> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1978, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1977, p. 183 (Journal). SNN2192.

<4> Woodfield C., 1992, The Defences of Towcester, Northamptonshire, p. 33 and microfiche B5 (Article). SNN60159.

Record last edited

Jan 12 2026 12:09PM