Monument record 1641/4/6 - South Gate, Irchester Roman Town defences

{4} Remains of the gate on the south side were discovered.

{5} The foundations of the south gate are noted, and marked 'G' on the plan (Fig.10).

{6} The main intramural road probably ran south through a gate identified by Baker in 1879 and recorded in section on a photograph of the A45 road cutting to the south.
It is probable that there was an entrance through the southern side of the defences where the main road is visible on aerial photographs as Baker's 1879 plan indicates a corresponding gateway in addition to the one already noted in the west.

{7} There is an apparent, but narrow break in the wall along the southern side of the town, coinciding with the position of the main town street, which might be the location of a gateway (Fig 4, G2). The resistance survey indicates the probable presence of a mass of stone on the eastern side of the possible gateway (Fig 5). However, no trace of a continuation of the main street has ever been observed to the south of the wall.

<1> Baker R.S., 1875, Associated Architectural Societies Reports, p.88-118 (unchecked) (Series). SNN59403.

<2> Baker R.S., 1879, Associated Architectural Societies Reports, p.49-59 (unchecked) (Series). SNN55475.

<3> 1879, The Archaeological Journal (36), p.99-100 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN59348.

<4> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1979, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.92 (checked) (Series). SNN77380.

<5> Doubleday H A (ed), 1902, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.179-80 (checked) (Series). SNN100368.

<6> Taylor J., 2000, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Irchester (Roman), Section 3.1 Communications (checked) (Digital archive). SNN100749.

<7> Butler A.; Meadows I.; Fisher I., 2010, Archaeological Geophysical Survey at Chester Farm, Irchester, Northamptonshire, p.7+Fig.4 (checked) (Report). SNN107215.

Record last edited

Nov 28 2018 10:00AM