Monument record 726/4/1 - Roman Defences at Lactodorum: north-west corner

Only in the north-west corner of the town do the defences survive in a recognisable form. The areas immediately north and south of the telephone exchange are Scheduled Monuments. Archaeological investigation was carried out during extensions to the telephone exchange in the 1960s. A possible bastion was identified. A burial and disarticulated human bone was also identified and considered likely to be Roman.

{1} Earthworks of the north west ditch are the only surveyable Roman feature

(2) Ditch 33-35m wide and 0.5-2m deep. 1m high bank visible on north section only.

(3) Only in the north-west corner of the town do the defences survive in a recognisable form. To the south of the present police station and running north-east for 30m is a ditch 33m wide and 0.50m deep with a bank 1.5m high above the ditch bottom; running south-south-east for 70m from the telephone exchange which sits on the north-west corner is a ditch 35m wide and 2m deep now occupied by allotments.

Observations during the building of a telephone exchange in 1967 suggested that there had been two periods of construction of the town wall, as had been noted elsewhere. Plan

{5} Woodfield reviewed the results of the 1960s watching brief undertaken by Gwen Brown. The earliest feature was an Antonine pit which appears to have been sealed by the bank, suggesting a probable Antonine date for the construction of the bank. The wall was heavily robbed. The 2nd century ditch was apparently filled with clay and gravel for the construction of a bastion, presumably in the 4th century. The bastion was probably c10m across. A further ditch may have been a cut for the new Great Ditch accompanying the tower. Human bone and an articulated burial were alos reported, but no further information given. A Roman date was considered likely.

{?} Section of bank of Roman town 550ft long, north of Brackley Road and west of High Street. Scheduled.

[11} Building extension has revealed the profile of the ditch and corner of the SW defences of the town. Wall almost completely robbed away. Complete 2nd century pots and much domestic debris and pottery in disturbance above walls.

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1950s/1960s, Ordnance Survey Record Cards, SP64NE1 (unchecked) (Index). SNN443.

<2> 1961, H.M.S.O. List, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN8489.

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

<4> 1991, CORRESPONDENCE, (unchecked) (Correspondence). SNN59687.

<5> Woodfield C., 1992, The Defences of Towcester, Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Article). SNN60159.

<6> BRANIGAN K., 1985, The Catuvellauni, 89-91 (unchecked) (Book). SNN60083.

<7> Taylor J.; Foard G.; Laughton J.; Steadman S.; Ballinger J., 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Towcester (Report). SNN103132.

<8> Cadman G., 2010, Towcester Roman Town North West Defences, (checked) (Photographic prints (COL)). SNN107168.

<9> CLARK, MILITARY ARCHITECTURE, 21 (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN55574.

<10> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.318+320 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77328.

<11> Brown A.E. (Ed.), 1969, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1967/68 (Roman), p. 18 (Article). SNN58198.

<12> Wilson, D R, & Wright, R P, 1969, Roman Britain in 1968, p. 219 (Article). SNN114201.

Record last edited

Jan 12 2026 10:20AM