| Print | More

WATER NEWTON ROMAN FORT

ABOUT THIS MONUMENT

+ / -

EH Visitor Information
Related Monuments
Related Text
Investigation History

More Pictures
Modern Map
Old Map
Aerial Photograph

Monument Types
Sources
Thesaurus
Description

DESCRIPTION

+ / -

The site of the Roman fort at Water Newton. The multiple ditched Roman fort at Water Newton was first seen by Crawford in 1930 who stated that it had four parallel ditches on the north side. It is described on the basis of an aerial photograph which shows the outline of a large Roman camp, outside which are traces of temporary camps 'A' and 'B'. It would seem that 'A' and 'B' quite likely belong to the period circa 45-47 AD, while 'C' may be of the latter date, but it would have been abandoned during the 50s AD. The fort covered an area of about 5 acres (2 hectares) and probably housed an auxiliary unit. The circuit was defended by a third, outer, ditch at the south west corner. Seen from the air, the clearest gateway is in the western side, but the fort presumably faced east and was linked to Ermine Street. Industrial activity from the second century onward disturbed the eastern part of the site.

DETAIL

+ / -

MORE INFORMATION & SOURCES

+ / -

(TL 11629724) Roman Fort (R) (Site of) (1)

The multiple ditched Roman fort at Water Newton was first seen by Crawford in 1930 who stated that it had 4 parallel ditches on the N side. It is described on the basis of an AP by Major Allen which shows the outline of a large Roman camp, outside which are traces of 2 temporary camps 'A' and 'B' (see plan).

It would seem that 'A' and 'B' quite likely belong to the period c 45-47 AD, while 'C' may be of the latter date, but it would have been abandoned during the fifties. (Not yet excavated) (2)

Cropmarks of a Roman fort within which the side gutters of a road to the E and W gates can be seen. (3)

There are no surface remains of this Fort. A few sherds of RB pottery were found at TL 1160 9730. (4)

The fort covered an area of about 5 acres (2ha) and probably housed an auxiliary unit. The circuit was defended by a third, outer, ditch at the south west corner. Seen from the air, the clearest gateway is in the western side, but the fort presumably faced east and was linked to Ermine Street (RR 2b,c) by a feeder road. Industrial activity from the second century onward disturbed the eastern part of the site.

New information was provided by the air photographs of Mr S G Upex in 1972.

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1958

( 2) General reference

Antiquity 13 1939 178-90 (C F C Hawkes) Illus.

( 3) Aerial photograph

AP (K Jopp J43/7)

( 4) Field Investigators Comments

F1 JB 04-NOV-70

( 5) General reference

Arch J 131 1974 142 plan (J P Wild)

RELATED MONUMENTS

+ / -

Monument Name/No

Resources

Description

DUROBRIVAE
AILSWORTH

Monument Pictures
Monument Maps
Monument Investigation
Monument Sources
EH Visitor Information

Durobrivae was the centre of the largest industrial complex known in Roman Britain. It began as a small five-acre fort which was built shortly after A...

MONUMENT TYPES

+ / -

COMMENTS

+ / -

Please help us keep our information accurate let us know if you see any errors on this page.

Further information about monuments may be obtained by contacting NMR Enquiry and Research Services , through the English Heritage website.

EH Archives
EH Prints
English Heritage
Heritage Explorer
Heritage Gateway
Images of England
National Heritage List for England
English Heritage Archive
ViewFinder