More information : (TL 503430) ROMAN TOWN (R) (site of) (NT) (1)
A Roman walled town of about 35 acres (see plan from (5)). Noted and planned by Stukeley in 1719 when the walls were still visible, and part excavated by R C Neville in 1847. Occupied from pre-Flavian times to the 5th century AD, when it was abandoned. Much of the northern part of the town has now been destroyed by gravel digging (first started in 1750). Rescue excavations in 1948-9 revealed the complete circuit of the northern and western parts of the town wall, dated to the early 4th century. The gateway was blocked at one period with a tower and a new gateway built alongside with the road diverted through it. No ditch was found; no rampart bank existed inside the twelve ft thick wall, and there no internal or external towers or bastions. The first Roman buildings stood on each side of the main NW- SE street and were destroyed by fire about 150 AD. Immediate re-building was not extensive and the central area where the public buildings stood has yet to be excavated. Two coin hoards have been found, one of 2nd century date, the other 3rd century. Early Belgic occupation was proved by pottery contained in rubbish pits underlying the Roman levels. (St. Joseph APs included in this folder are rather uninformative.) (2-8)
No standing structures of the Roman town now survive above ground. A scarp 1.8m high, running for some 400.0m along the river terrace of the River Cam marks the probable course of the SW wall. It contains a heavy scatter of flint, Roman tile and brick, much spread by the plough.
Surveyed at 1:2500.
Quarrying has destroyed most of the northern half of the wall, but elsewhere the course is covered by modern roads and house gardens. The interior, which rises to a high point at TL 503431, is under plough. Course of walls plotted at 1:2500 from plan in authority 5.
(9)
Additional bibliography. (10-12)
TL 503 430. Roman site. Scheduled 74. (13)
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