If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

Possible Roman defensive ditches on land at the Red Lion Hotel, High Street, Caistor

Full description

PRN 54076
Archaeological work on land to the rear of the Red Lion Hotel, off High Street, Caistor identified two substantial ditches running parallel with the probable course of the town wall at a distance of approximately 12m and 18m which is comparable with other known small town defensive ditch systems such as those at Alchester in Oxfordshire and Irchester in Northamptonshire. The excavation of the ditches show that both were marginally steeper on the southern sides; this may be deliberate or may represent a reduced level of erosion associated with possible bank material on the inner sides of the ditches. The paucity of dating evidence from the ditches concurs with a generally accepted view that Roman defensive ditches were regularly maintained and cleaned out. However, large masonry blocks found in the ditches suggest the close proximity of the known town circuit wall {1} {2}

<1> Pre-Construct Archaeology, June 2004, Archaeological Watching Brief at the Red Lion Hotel, Caistor, RLHC03 (Report). SLI9430.

<2> Pre-Construct Archaeology, June 2004, Archaeological Watching Brief at the Red Lion Hotel, Caistor, LCNCC 2004.63 (Archive). SLI9431.

Monument Types

• DITCH (Roman - 43 AD? to 409 AD?)

Associated Events

• Red Lion Hotel, High Street, Caistor

Protected Status

• Conservation Area

Sources and further reading

Related records

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.