Monument record 726/4/7 - Roman Town defences: NE corner

Two phases of a Roman bank of 2nd century date and an accompanying ditch were found during a watching brief in 1976/77. A Roman pit containing pottery and glass beakers was found. Wall foundations in front of the Roman fortifications are assumed to represent the remains of a wall built by Edward the Elder in AD 921 [HER no: 727/2/7].

{1}Map showing defences. Observation during drainage scheme in 1977 showed a bank 10m wide of clay and gravel; part of the robber trench of the wall was seen but the relationship between the wall and bank could not be established. Separated from the wall by a berm 8m wide was a shallow flat-bottomed wet ditch at least 9m wide and 1.75m-2m deep. Material which had accumulated against the bank had been cut by a pit containing pottery of around 180 AD.

{2}Report on sites seen during drainage work

{3} Rampart noted during drainage work at N corner of town, still survives as very mutilated earthwork immediately to NW

{4}A further possible bastion was located on this site in 1976

{5}General discussion of the origins and form of the town

{6}The defences were elaborated in the fourth century to include bastions

{7} In the garden of 166 Watling Street was what appeared to be the turn of the rampart just visible as an earthwork. The sewer trench cut what appeared to be the town bank in this garden consisting of spreads of gravel, clay and mortar with some indications of possible front and back revetments on an apparently original bank some 6m wide. It was extended to some 10m wide at some point.

{8} (SP 69194897) A watching brief was undertaken during work on the Anglian Water Authority main drainage scheme 1976/77. The drain trench cut through the town defences revealing a bank possibly of two phases and perhaps of 2nd century AD origin, and accompanying ditch. Wall foundations in front of the Roman fortification are assumed to represent remains of the wall built by Edward the Elder in 921. In addition, a pit containing a quantity of Roman pottery and fragments of glass beakers was excavated.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.151/Site 3 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<3> Woodfield, C, 1992, Towcester Defences, (unchecked) (Correspondence). SNN51897.

<4> Woodfield C., 1992, The Defences of Towcester, Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Article). SNN60159.

<5> Burnham B.C.; Wacher J., 1990, The 'Small Towns' of Roman Britain, 152-8+160 (checked) (Book). SNN60720.

<6> Taylor J.; Foard G.; Laughton J.; Steadman S.; Ballinger J., 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Towcester, Section 3.2 Defences (unchecked) (Report). SNN103132.

<7> Woodfield, C., 1976?, Towcester- Anglian Water Authority Sewer Trench, February to October 1976, Site 2/p. 4-6 (Uncertain). SNN51901.

<8> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1978, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1977, 13/182-4 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN2192.

<9> Woodfield C., 1993, PLANS; MISC., (unchecked) (Plan). SNN59690.

Record last edited

Aug 16 2023 1:34PM