Monument record 2430/1/1 - Romano-British Road Remains, Henslow Meadow

The side ditches of a Roman road were traced for circa 500 yards during gravel extraction, running roughly northeast-southwest, heading roughly south-west towards the Roman bridge structure and the course of the better known Gartree Roman road, which runs in a northwest-southeast direction. The ditches averaged circa 3 feet deep and were mainly filled with alluvial clay. There were two ditches along the eastern side. Some limestone and gravel metalling was observed to have survived in a few places along the course of the road. The road cuts across the Neolithic ring ditch, at which point some gravel-filled wheel ruts could be observed. Also in this area, a bronze baldric or horse trapping, typically of military use and mid-1st century date, was found. The road also crosses the Iron Age pit alignment TL 08 SW 48, and passes close to an area of later, Anglo-Saxon activity SP 98 SE 26.

{1} During excavations at Henslow Meadow a length of Roman road was found running north east from the Godmanchester to Leicester Roman road. Seen to c.500m as two parallel ditches up to 2.5m deep and 12m apart. Traces of limestone and gravel metalling were found in the ditches.

{2} Gravel quarry pits for use in the road were found at the side. Field name: Henslow Meadow

Jackson, D., 1976, The Excavation of Neolithic and Bronze Age Sites at Aldwincle, Northants, 1967-71 (Article). SNN43101.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1975, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.117 (checked) (Series). SNN77379.

<2> Jackson D., 1970, Fieldwork and Excavation in North Eastern Northamptonshire, p.36-7 (unchecked) (Article). SNN4821.

<3> Brown, A E (ed), 1972, Northamptonshire Archaeology, 7/12 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN25623.

<4> 1971, Archaeological Excavations (Various Years), p.21 (unchecked) (Series). SNN15160.

<5> Rowley R.T.; Fowler W.J. (Editors), 1972, CBA Group 9 Newsletter: South Midlands Archaeology (2), 2/14 (unchecked) (Newsletter). SNN10022.

<6> Jackson, D., 1977, Further Excavations at Aldwincle in Northamptonshire 1969-71, p. 47 (Article). SNN74177.

<7> Webster, G., 1978, A Fragment Of Roman Military Equipment From Aldwincle, p. 169 (Article). SNN43103.

Record last edited

Jul 9 2024 10:02AM