Monument record 2395/1/1 - Romano-British Road, Sixfields

A Roman road was identified during archaeological excavations undertaken in the 1970s. It was initially identified during a watching brief and subsequently a length was excavated to the south-west. The road was resurfaced at least twice and appears to have been in use for much of the Roman period. A trench excavated on the Weedon Road to the north-east on its expected course failed to identify any trace of it, suggesting it may have changed course further south.

{1} A metalled road ran south-west to north-east across the site; at SP73156035 road was flanked by ditches containing AD C1st pottery;

{2} Conjecturally the road crosses 2395/1/1 at Sp 734 607. The road crosses the river at SP 731 596.

{3} Information about the road layout comes primarily from the 1974 excavations. Within the settlement little is known about the street plan but from the fragmentary information available it is possible to suggest that much of the settlement lay along two roads (from Bannaventa to the north west and from Towcester to the south west) that met somewhere around SP732606. At present the direction of any roads to the east or southeast beyond this junction towards Irchester are unknown. It is, however, possible to suggest that the road from the direction of Towcester did not continue northeast beyond the suggested junction because no sign of it was found at Site 1 of the 1970s rescue excavations alongside Weedon Road. A small area of hard standing found in an evaluation of the former Abbey works site to the east of the junction along Weedon Road may be part of a road but its north-south alignment suggests that it is more likely to have been a yard or side track or road.

{4} Excavations at Site 2 identified the course of the road which had been identified during a watching brief to the north-east. It had flanking ditches. The first phase appeared to date to the later 1st to mid 2nd century AD. During the 2nd to 3rd centuries the main road was resurfaced and new roadside ditches were dug. In the late 3rd century to late 4th century the road was resurfaced again and at least one roadside ditch recut. A long trench (Site 1) at SP7325 6070 following the course of the modern road and services work did not identify any continuation of the road although it should have been intercepted by the eastern end of the trench.

<1> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.253-54 (checked) (Series). SNN77383.

<2> BLACKBURN D, 1997, St Luke's Archaeological Group: Second Report, Discussion, Comment and Guide, (checked) (Notes). SNN44458.

<3> Taylor J., 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Duston (Roman), Section 3.1 Communications (checked) (Report). SNN103115.

<4> Taylor J., 2002, Duston Notes from John Williams archive on the Duston Excavation, Site 2 (Notes). SNN103376.

Record last edited

May 23 2025 9:36AM