More information : (SD 47486203) Wery Wall (GS) (10
In 1882 this fragment of a Roman wall measured 9 ft long, 10 1/2ft
high, 8 1/2ft thick and supported the southern boundary wall of a
garden at the lower end of Bridge Lane. The fragment is only the
core, with facing stones missing. "... a great piece of wall. A
year or two ago a great parcel of it was destroyed; this reached
to the Bridge Lane and went round the verge of the close north of
the church and took in the whole circuit of the hill, and the
ditch on the north side of it is now to be seen."(a) "... called
Wery Wall ... Another fragment stands at the stile on the
footpath under the west end of the churchyard. (This was soon
afterwards destroyed). At Bridge Lane the wall made an angle and
ran along the brow of the hill behind the houses in a line to
Church Street where it crosses about Covell Cross."
Situated behind No 12 Bridge Lane this wall was excavated by
Prof R Newstead FRS and Prof J P Droop in 1927. No ashlar-faced
stones are left. The mortar is of typical Roman work. Below
the footings of the wall a small piece of Samian ware was
found. The Wery Wall may be of slightly later date than late 1st -
early 2nd century. Nearby were traces of a fire with charcoal,
oyster shells and meat bones, also pieces of wall plaster. A
silver coin of Nero and Roman Pottery sherds were found nearby.
(2-3)
SD 47496202. This portion of walling known as the Wery Wall is
very fragmentary measuring approx 4.0m x 3.0m x 3.0m high. It is
situated on a very steep bank running N-S and only the core remains;
all the facing stones having been removed. The wall is
considered to be of Roman date and is the only extant Roman
walling to be seen in Lancaster. The other portions of the wall
are now not visible and their courses cannot be sited accurately. (4)
Excavations in 1970 revealed the line of the north wall of the
Wery fort. This is considered to represent a further contraction
and rebuilding after 367, the last fort appearing to have an
area of 8.5 acres.
See SD46SE 105. (5)
SD 473620. The Wery Wall. A surviving upstanding fragment of the military fort constructed in circa 330 AD, thought to represent the core of a polgonal external bastion. Scheduling amended. (6)
|