Monument record 5198/1/1 - Possible Romano-British Causeway

Part of a Romano-British urn and a "paved causeway" found in 1899. No further details.

{1} A Roman jar was found during the erection of the gasworks in 1889. A causeway and animal bones were also discovered but not dated. SP75015997

{2} Paved causeway found.

{3} Early way appears to have run from near site of Northampton Castle to Hunsbury Hill crossing River Nene by ford; excavations for Gas Works revealed paved causeway at good depth below surface & leading directly to river; no measurements taken; speculates that road may have formed part of Banbury Lane.

{4} Part of paved causeway.

{9} (SP 75015997). Part of a RB urn, now in Northampton Museum, and a paved causeway were found in 1899. (The find is not mentioned either by George or Haverfield who wrote within a few years of the date given).

{10} No further information in Northampton Museum.

{11} Shaw speculates that this could be a middle Saxon river crossing entering the settlement via Tanner Street and Narrow Toe Lane.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.324 (checked) (Series). SNN77383.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP75NE1 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<3> MARKHAM C.A., 1914, THE ROADS OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, 122 (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN3099.

<4> Shaw M.; Williams J., 1971-1981, Northampton Development Corporation SMR Record Cards, R44+R196 (checked) (Index). SNN133.

<5> Williams J.H.; Shaw M.; Hardy S., 1978-1984, Northampton Development Corporation SMR Secondary Record Sheets, R44+R196 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN108.

<6> Lee F., 1953, A New Theory of The Origins and Early Growth of Northampton, p.164 (unchecked) (Article). SNN3419.

<7> MARKHAM C.A., 1914, JOURNAL OF THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE NATURAL HISTORY SO, 17/122 (Journal). SNN19973.

<8> 1899, MERCURY & HERALD, (unchecked) (Article). SNN19972.

<9> Annotated Record Map, Corr 6" 7.5.52 (R W Brown) (Map). SNN112961.

<10> Baird, J, 1969, Field Investigators Comments, F1 JB 4-MAR-69 (Note). SNN111452.

<11> Shaw, M, 2020, Approaches to the analysis of the topography, origins, growth and development of English medieval towns: case studies of selected towns and their wider applicability, p. 123 (Thesis). SNN116307.

Record last edited

Sep 18 2025 12:47PM