Monument record 726/4/12 - Possible site of South Gate

Possible location for the South Gate of the Roman defences

{1}Stone features considered to belong to the South Gatehouse have been seen at various times. Information J Alexander.

{3}Excavation in advance of development on the Meeting Lane/ Richmond Road corner in 2001 & 2002 also seems to suggest that east of this location the line of the defences may gradually curve slightly to the north. If true this would suggest that the defences crossed the course of Watling Street some 30-40m further north than has traditionally been considered the case. Furthermore it would suggest that the 'base of a masonry structure of uncertain but presumably monumental function' noted by Woodfield at this point may be the town's south gate.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1982, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.153/Site 3 (checked) (Series). SNN77382.

<2> Brown A.E. (Editor), 1978, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1977, 13/183 (Journal). SNN2192.

<3> Taylor J.; Foard G.; Laughton J.; Steadman S.; Ballinger J., 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Towcester, Section 3.2 Defences (Report). SNN103132.

<4> Woodfield, C., 1976?, Towcester- Anglian Water Authority Sewer Trench, February to October 1976 (Uncertain). SNN51901.

Record last edited

Feb 3 2017 11:12AM