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Historic England Research Records

Adel Roman Settlement

Hob Uid: 51607
Location :
Leeds
Alwoodley
Grid Ref : SE2770041100
Summary : Excavations in 1933-38 uncovered the remains of a Roman ribbon settlement along Roman Road 72b; building remains were uncovered and pottery dating from the 1st to the 4th century AD. In c.1741 a late 3rd-early 4th century coin hoard was found here as have Roman tombstones and altars.
More information : (SE 277411) Romano-British Settlement (R) (site of) (1)

(Centred SE 277411) The remains of a "Roman Town" upon Adel Moor near Adel Mill, adjoining the Roman road (RR 72b) were revealed by ploughing circa 1700. The site was close to a"Roman camp" measuring about 5 chains by 4 chains and surrounded by a single bank and ditch. (This description fits the enclosure at Adel Mill, SE 24 SE 8). Foundations of houses standing up to four courses high on both sides of a street were found, and the quantity and quality of the finds, including Samian ware and other pottery, fragments of statues, pillars, glass-ware and "Aqueducts", led Thoresby to believe that the settlement had been an important one. Two Roman tombstones (RIB 632 and 633) from the site were given to Thoresby, who separately (p 161) states that they came from Black-hill. A hoard of Roman copper coins, mainly of the Tetrici was found adjoining Black Hill circa 1741/2 (4) (5), and Whitaker, referring to Thoresby's camp "on the slope of the hill north from Adel", records the discovery shortly before 1816 on "the site of the Roman town eastward from the camp" of vestiges of buildings forming streets, and remains including two uninscribed altars, an altar dedicated to Brigantia (RIB 630) and a stone slab with an inscription surrounding a phallus (RIB 631). The two latter are preserved at Adel Church. These discoveries led to excavations from 1933 to 1938 by the Leeds Roman Research Committee directed by Kent, in a field east of the Adel to Eccup road, north-east of the earthwork at Adel Mill, revealing the site of what was thought to be a "ribbon village" along the Roman road. A 12 ft length of wall footing, paving, rammed stone floors, cobbled areas and several hearths were uncovered. Samian and other pottery ranged from 1st century to 4th century, and other finds included a cremation burial, quarry pits, stone roof tiles, a few coins, a brooch and some querns. (2-10)

Kent (a) confirmed the OS published site, and stated that ploughing in recent years had revealed no further evidence. Several querns from the excavation are in his private collection. A thorough perambulation of the area showed no surface indications. Villy, followed by Pearson, places the site of Thoresby's Roman settlement further north (see SE 24 SE 4), mainly on the evidence of the name "Black Hill". The OS 6" map of 1847 however, also applies Black Hill to the area centred SE 280 413, which agrees with the 1933-1938 discoveries and Thoresby's description. (11)

Sources :
Source Number : 1
Source : Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)
Source details : 6" 1968
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 2
Source : VIRTUAL CATALOGUE ENTRY TO SUPPORT NAR MIGRATION
Source details : Ducatus Leodiensis 2nd edn 1816 (R Thoresby)
Page(s) : 159-161
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 11
Source : Field Investigators Comments
Source details : F1 RL 25-APR-61
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 11a
Source : Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments
Source details : Inf: BWJ Kent FSA (Scot) Tatefield Hall Beckwithshaw
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 11b
Source : The Yorkshire archaeological journal
Source details : (F Villy)
Page(s) : 320, 321
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 27, 1924
Source Number : 11c
Source : Roman Yorkshire
Source details : son)
Page(s) : 121
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 3
Source : The Roman inscriptions of Britain, 1. Inscriptions on stone
Source details :
Page(s) : 211-12
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 4
Source : VIRTUAL CATALOGUE ENTRY TO SUPPORT NAR MIGRATION
Source details : Bib Top Brit Vol 3 1781 (Knight)
Page(s) : 11, 191-2
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 5
Source : VIRTUAL CATALOGUE ENTRY TO SUPPORT NAR MIGRATION
Source details : Annals of York Vol 1 1860 (J Mayhall)
Page(s) : 5, 127
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 6
Source : VIRTUAL CATALOGUE ENTRY TO SUPPORT NAR MIGRATION
Source details : Loidis and Elmete 1816
Page(s) : 175
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :
Source Number : 7
Source : The Yorkshire archaeological journal
Source details : (M K Clark)
Page(s) : 385
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 31, 1934
Source Number : 8
Source : The Yorkshire archaeological journal
Source details :
Page(s) : 229, 459
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 32, 1936
Source Number : 9
Source : The Yorkshire archaeological journal
Source details : (B W J Kent)
Page(s) : 215
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 33, 1938
Source Number : 10
Source : The Yorkshire archaeological journal
Source details : (B W J Kent)
Page(s) : 231
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 34, 1939

Monument Types:
Monument Period Name : Roman
Display Date :
Monument End Date : 332
Monument Start Date : 284
Monument Type : Findspot
Evidence : Find
Monument Period Name : Roman
Display Date :
Monument End Date : 399
Monument Start Date : 43
Monument Type : Settlement
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit, Find

Components and Objects:
Period : Roman
Component Monument Type : Findspot
Object Type : COIN HOARD
Object Material :
Period : Roman
Component Monument Type : Settlement
Object Type : TOMBSTONE, ALTAR
Object Material :

Related Records from other datasets:
External Cross Reference Source : Roman Inscriptions of Britain (RIB)
External Cross Reference Number : 630
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : Roman Inscriptions of Britain (RIB)
External Cross Reference Number : 631
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : Roman Inscriptions of Britain (RIB)
External Cross Reference Number : 632
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : Roman Inscriptions of Britain (RIB)
External Cross Reference Number : 633
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SE 24 SE 7
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :
Associated Monuments : 1371459
Relationship type : General association

Related Activities :
Associated Activities : Primary, ADEL ROMAN SITE
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1808-01-01
End Date : 1808-12-31
Associated Activities : Primary, ADEL ROMAN SITE
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1918-01-01
End Date : 1918-12-31
Associated Activities : Primary, ADEL ROMAN SITE
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1933-01-01
End Date : 1938-12-31
Associated Activities : Primary, ADEL ROMAN SITE
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1957-01-01
End Date : 1957-12-31
Associated Activities : Primary, FIELD OBSERVATION ON SE 24 SE 7
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1961-04-25
End Date : 1961-04-25