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Summary

ROMAN TOWN WALL WITH GATE IN SALTERGATE

Full description

Excavation in 1973-74 revealed a length of the Roman defensive wall in the south side of the lower colonia, east of the Stonebow. It is about 9 feet thick with the medieval wall about 3 feet thick on top of it. Evidence for a gate of late Roman or medieval form was found near its centre and adjoining Bank Street. It was known from discoveries at the Falcon Hotel before the war, that the wall survived. Demolition of the Corporation offices and the proposed redevelopment led to excavations by the Ministry of Works. {1}{2}
Excavations in 1973-74 revealed parts of the Roman south wall, some of which survived to a height of 2.25m. An early medieval sunken floor had been built inside the defences unfortunately destroying the Roman rampart in this area, although one small section survived to one side of it. The rampart itself was cut back to insert the Roman wall and again so the wall could be widened. The wall was revealed from the Falcon Inn to Bank Street and at the east of it a postern gate was discovered. This narrow gate was originally approximately 2m wide and was used extensively as the number of cobbled surfaces are testament to. The remains of a Roman building was also recorded, although only one room survived to be excavated. The floor of opus signinum lay over hypocaust channels. The hypocaust channels in one part of the room cease to follow their alignment suggesting that the room was extended at some point. The floor surface which is relatively clean seems to suggest that the building was not abandoned before it collapse and that it continued to be used in the very early medieval period (see PRN70143). {3}{4}

<1> HBMC, 1975, AM 7, - (Scheduling Record). SLI4120.

<2> HBMC, 1988, AM 107, SAM 281 (Scheduling Record). SLI4050.

<3> Colyer, C., Gilmour, B.J.J. and Jones, M.J., 1999, The Defences of the Lower City, pp.254-55 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI5400.

<4> Christina Colyer and M.J. Jones, 1979, Antiquaries Journal (Article in Serial). SLI9067.

Monument Types

• FLOOR (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• HYPOCAUST (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• WALL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Associated Finds

• ROOF TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Associated Events

• Saltergate excavations, 1973-74

Protected Status

• Conservation Area
• Scheduled Monument

Sources and further reading

Related records

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