Monument record 447/2/1 - Medieval Watling Street

Flood alleviation works carried out in 1977-8 exposed a section of Watling Street to the north-east of the present carriageway. This section of road was probably medieval.

{1} Flood alleviation works carried out in 1978 exposed a section of the Watling Street 1m NW of the NE abutment of the 1901 bridge over the Silverstone Brook. The levels of road metalling were not of the Roman Watling Street, which is more likely to have crossed the stream further to the east, but appear to represent the construction of late medieval roads originally some 7.3m wide. The road appeared to have side and axial kerbs in its earlier gravelled phase. Over this was laid limestone paving intermingled with alder brushwood and iron slag.

{2} A series of superimposed road surface (SP 69434852) contained medieval pottery and were post-Roman.

<1> Woodfield C.; Conlon R., 1982, Late Medieval and Early Tudor Watling Street, Towcester, p.85 (unchecked) (Article). SNN104573.

<2> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p. 151/Site 3 (inf Mrs Woodfield) (Series). SNN77382.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 9:09AM