More information : (SJ 565094; SJ 568085) Roman Wall (R) (course of) (NAT) (1)
The defences of the town were probably built in three phases:
1. A defensive ditch of the first century enclosing a smaller area than that occupied by the later town. The existence of a 1st century ditch was first postulated in 1936 by Miss Kenyon and the probable course has been identified on air photographs. It is thought that the layout of the town and its defences followed the plan of the earlier legionary fortress. (See SJ 50 NE 86).
2. In the second century, the town was expanded northwards and the defences enlarged to comprise at least two ditches, eighty feet apart, and an inner wall.
3. In the fourth century the defences were increased again but with no increase in the area enclosed. The outer ditch was made wider and deeper and there is evidence that platforms were built inside the angles of the wall. Traces of two platforms have been revealed by air photographs on the north east perimeter. (For plan of walls, see SJ 50 NE 10). Wright states that remains of the east gate were found where the wall crosses Watling Street (SJ 569091). In 1896 large stones were found 500 feet south of Watling Street and were thought by Mr G E Fox to be remains of the gate. (2-8)
Aerial reconnaissance of the east and south-east defences by G Hay in 1970 revealed two bastion platforms and a large, circular ringwork. One bastion was situated just to the north of the modern Ironbridge road, the other about seventy yards to the south. The ringwork was located in the south angle of the ramparts. Test excavations showed that the ringwork was a clay platform overlying the robbed Roman wall. Roman and 12th/13th century pottery was
found in the clay and it has been suggested that this might be the site of Wroxeter Castle.
(There appears to be no evidence for a castle at Wroxeter and there are no further references).
A flattened counterscarp to the west of the site was found to contain remains of substantial Roman buildings. (9)
The alignment of two and occasionally three large earthen boundary banks up to 2.6m high and in places spread by ploughing up to 40.0m wide, can be traced on the south and east sides of the town, while to the north the line is indicated by a low ridge. There is no trace of any artificial defences on the west side of the town. At no point on the banks could any walling be located.
Published survey (25") revised. (10)
No change to previous field report. Published 1:2500 survey, 1971, revised on MSD. (11)
Referred to in Wroxter Roman City Conservation Plan gazetteer (Gazetteer Heritage Asset Numbers 300-309). (12-13)
Additional reference. (14) |