Unlocking the secrets of Towcester Roman town

The project

Excavations at Moat Lane in Towcester in 2013, on behalf of Morgan Sindall Ltd and South Northamptonshire Council, in advance of redevelopment, provided a rare and exciting opportunity to examine the archaeology of the historic market town.

Several areas of excavation took place surrounding the Scheduled Monument of Bury Mount, the site of a Norman motte castle. The significant findings from the excavations were mostly of earlier date, however, relating to the Roman defences and settlement in the town.

The present town straddles an important junction on Watling Street, the major Roman road which connected Dover, London and Wroxeter. During the Roman period, the town of Lactodurum was established at the junction and rapidly grew into a successful settlement. It was the eastern edge remains of this settlement that were uncovered by our excavation.

Excavation Area 1

Area 1 was located near the base of Bury Mount and very close to the Mill Leat. The area was waterlogged and sloped down to the historic floodplain of the River Tove to the north. Although no Roman buildings were found here, a series of pits, postholes and enclosures indicate that this area might have been used to hold livestock. A variety of animals would have been kept by the residents of the Roman town, including sheep, goats, cattle and horses.

Our team of archaeologists also recorded a Roman ditch that formed part of the defences of Lactodurum. This ditch appears to have been reused, first by the nearby Norman motte castle, then during the English Civil War, and most recently during the construction of the Mill Leat.

Excavation Area 2

Area 2 was located to the north-west of Area 1 on slightly higher ground. Although smaller, this area revealed the first evidence of a Roman building.
A series of post pads (stone bases used to support wooden posts) indicate that a large timber building had stood here. It was probably used for storage or as a barn for livestock management.

Interestingly, although there was a wealth of evidence for Roman occupation, very little remained of later periods. Possibly this is because the land was reduced at some point during the medieval or Post-medieval periods: possibly soil was removed and transported for construction elsewhere, even for the building of the massive earthworks of Bury Mount (the motte castle), or for a nearby turnpike road.

Excavation Area 3

Area 3 was located near Whitton’s Lane and was the highest (and driest) point of the site. Here our archaeologists uncovered the remains of another Roman building. The substantial stone footings indicated that this was perhaps a two-storey dwelling. Its position between the core of the Roman town and the agricultural area (Areas 1 and 2) makes it likely that the occupants were undertaking some form of industry. Sherds of pottery and fragments of animal bone were numerous within the deposits.

Our excavations in Area 3 also uncovered the surface of a Roman street that linked the building to Roman Watling Street, together with what appeared to be a basement or cellar to the stone building. Demolition rubble had filled it. There were also burials of dogs that had taken place in the Roman period, possibly some representing ‘foundation sacrifices’ for the building. A viewing point was installed during the excavation by these exciting discoveries so that visitors could come and watch as we dug and recorded.

Excavation Areas 4 and 5

Areas 4 and 5 were located near Chantry Lane on opposite sides of Moat Lane. Area 4 yielded a Roman cremation, the remains placed in a greyware jar. A Samian ware bowl and a flagon also accompanied this urn, and the three vessels were together placed in a casket. There was also a Roman inhumation burial containing the remains of a small child.

The excavation of Area 5 uncovered the outer bailey ditch of the Norman motte, as well as a series of medieval pits formed by quarrying for gravel. The finds from the pits have helped us understand the medieval industry of this area of the town.