Monument record 726/3 - Possible Roman cemetery, south of Towcester

Roman burials have been found in a broad area around the junction of the Silverstone Brook and the River Tove.

{1} Nevertheless, further inhumation burials recorded on the TMT site some 60-100m to the east of Watling Street with three and possibly four burials noted by Windell may well represent further such disposal of the dead in the damp low-lying land south of the town between the defended area and Silverstone Brook. If so it would appear that the various small seemingly agricultural plots of this area were at least commonly used as burial ground.

{2} Woodfield identifies this cemetery as the south cemetery which is said to extend along both sides of the Watling Street 'as far south as the stone quarries' [the source of this quote is unknown]. There are records of an 'urnfield', or cremation cemetery, found when the Silverstone Brook was straightened in the last century. At the old TMT site, a cemetery was identified during the construction of the 'treacle tanks' for the old gas works. Extending over an area of c125m square centred on what is now Malthouse Court. Two damaged burials were excavated on either side of the stream during the insertion of the Anglian Water Pump Station, those of a young child and adult male dating to the 2nd century. Cuts on the skull of the male may be associated with a medical procedure such as cupping. Another six burials found on the same site were probably of a similar date. There was perhaps a shrine in the area of Malthouse Court- two late first or early second century paterae were rescued from contractor tipping. [None of the sources for these sites/finds are referenced]

{3} Burials were identified in Trench 2 during the TMT Yard evaluation. The Roman deposits were encountered at a considerable depth below ground level (bgl). A 'grey-black, sticky silt-loam' was encountered 1.4m to 1.8m bgl. This contained large amounts of Roman material and was interpreted as the original Roman ground surface. Three grave cuts were identified below this deposit and disarticulated human bone was found within it. A large ditch c6m wide and at least 1.9m deep from the surface of the natural and aligned approx east-west (hard to tell due to width of trench). Organic fill which included preserved wooden posts and Roman tile. Another wide ditch and a small, narrow gully were also recorded.

<1> Taylor J.; Foard G.; Laughton J.; Steadman S.; Ballinger J., 2002, Northamptonshire Extensive Urban Survey: Towcester, Section 3.5 (unchecked) (Report). SNN103132.

<2> Towcester & District Local History Society, 1995, Towcester: The Story of An English Country Town, p. 43 (Book). SNN72341.

<3> Windell, D, 1984, Towcester, TMT Yard/Geometer Developments Ltd Site, Trial trenching (Note). SNN116970.

Record last edited

Jan 12 2026 12:37PM