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Historic England Research Records

Catterick Roman Town

Hob Uid: 52316
Location :
North Yorkshire
Richmondshire
Brough with St. Giles
Grid Ref : SE2247399142
Summary : The site of the Roman fort and walled town of Catterick. The walled town was built on the site of a Roman Flavian fort. Part of a Roman wall is still visible. Anglo-Saxon brooches were also found, occupation continuing into the 6th century. Aerial photographic and magnetometer surveys have provided more details of the site. At least sixteen buildings are identifiable along with fragments of several more. Most are strip buildings but one appears to have two ranges at opposite sides of a walled courtyard while another has a range with massive foundations parallel to and set back from Dere Street with a further range and courtyard behind. To the west of the A1 the wall and street plan for the southern part of the fort were plotted, allowing its width of just over 150 metres (wall to wall) to be established for the first time. The location of the southern gate is also identifiable.
More information : (SE 224991) Cataractonium (Roman Fort)(R)

(site of)(Roman coins, Altar, Vessel and two Lions Sculptured in Stone found here). (1)

(SE 225992) Roman Town (R) (Site of).
(SE 227991) Roman Wall (R) (Remains of) (2)

(SE 225991) Cataractonium (Katarraktou in Ptolomy's Geography; Cataractone in the Antonine Itineries (3)), a walled Roman town on site of a Roman fort on the S bank of the River Swale where it was crossed by Dere St (RR86) (5), recognised as a Roman site since the 17th century, the early finds including two carved stone lions, an aureus of Nero, two cruciform gilt Saxon fibulae and a very large Bronze urn (a). The fibula and urn are now in Brough Hall (3). No evidence of a pre-Roman native site was found (5), but excavations in the mid-19th century (4), 1939 (3), 1952 (5), 1958 (6), 1959 (7) and 1971 (8) have shown that a Flavian fort, approx 400ft by 240ft, occupied the highest part of the hill in the 1st century AD. Decorated Samian ware, a coin of Tiberius and an oven (5), a ditch "large enough to be a fort ditch", and large quantities of wood an leather (fragments of tents, boots and clothes) (7) were found.

The second phase appears to be entirely civil (5). Timber buildings, probably shops and workshops, were erected on the main E-W road in the 2nd century. Further North, a more complex building with stone foundations covered nearly an acre and probably included a bath house. In the first half of the 3rd century some shops were rebuilt in stone, one being used as a temple podium (7). The late 3rd century town wall destroyed many existing buildings (6)(7) and the whole layout of the town was radically altered in the early 4th century. Later the temple was pulled down and the podium used for shop stalls. Building continued to the last half of the 4th century, a flourishing community still existing at the end of the century (7). (3-8)

All that is visible on the ground is the published section of wall (25") at SE 2267 9910.

Name 'CATARACTONIVM' accepted for 4th edition R.B.Map. (9)

The town and fort were plotted from air photographs and drawn at 1:2,500 scale as part of the RCHME: Catterick Project (Event UID 1089597). RCHME photography from 1995 revealed much new detail; east of the A1, in the area of the town (SE 22559917), at least sixteen buildings are clearly identifiable along with fragments of several more. Most are strip buildings but one appears to have two ranges at opposite sides of a walled courtyard (SE 22599918) while another has a range with massive foundations parallel to and set back from Dere street with a further range and courtyard behind (SE 22549918). To the west of the A1 (SE 22339907) the wall and street plan for the southern part of the fort were plotted, allowing its width of just over 150 metres (wall to wall) to be established for the first time. The location ofthe southern gate is also identifiable (SE 22349903) as are fragments of walling from internal structures. (10-11)

Scheduled. (12)

This area was re-assessed by the Yorkshire Henges and their Environs AP Mapping project and the results accord for the most part mapping described by authority 10. There is some discrepancy between both AP plots and the published magnetometer, both in the interpretation of form and positioning. The magnetometer survey also revealed greater detail, particularly in the racecourse area. (13-16)

English Heritage has published a two-part report which draws together 40 years of excavations at Roman Catterick, along with geophysical surveys and aerial photography analysis. In particular the vicus, with its mansio and bath house is examined as are local town buildings. The reports also focus on interpretations of the relationship between the Roman military and the civillian population; discusses levls of romanisation in the area and looks at the trasition from the roman to the early medieval period in the context of Catterick and its hinterland. The second volume deals with the finds from the site. (17-18)

A short article giving an overview of how knowledge about Roman Catterick has developed up to 2002. (19)

Sources :
Source Number : 1
Source : Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)
Source details : Ordnance Survey 6" map, 1930
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Source Number : 2
Source : Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)
Source details : Ordnance Survey 6" map, Provisional Edition, 1957
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Source Number : 9
Source : Field Investigators Comments
Source details : Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division Field Investigator, RE, 08-DEC-1971
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Source Number : 10
Source : Field Investigators Comments
Source details : David MacLeod\RCHME: Catterick Project\APR-1997 - AUG-1997.
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Source Number : 11
Source : The RCHME Catterick Project. Cropmarks in the A1(M) corridor, Catterick, North Yorkshire : air photographic analysis
Source details :
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Source Number : 12
Source : Scheduled Monument Notification
Source details : Scheduled Monument Notification 06-Oct-2003
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Source Number : 13
Source : Oblique aerial photograph reference number
Source details : NMR SE 2299/11 NMR 12747/53 07-AUG-1995
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Source Number : 14
Source : Oblique aerial photograph reference number
Source details : NMR SE 2299/4 NMR 12747/30 07-AUG-1995
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Source Number : 15
Source : Oblique aerial photograph reference number
Source details : ULM DQ80 02-JUL-1949
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Source Number : 16
Source : Oblique aerial photograph reference number
Source details : ULM DQ81 02-JUL-1949
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Source Number : 17
Source : Cataractonium: Roman Catterick and its hinterland. Excavations and research, 1958-1997. Part 1
Source details :
Page(s) :
Figs. : 25
Plates :
Vol(s) : 128
Source Number : 18
Source : Cataractonium: Roman Catterick and its hinterland. Excavations and Research 1958-1997. Part 2
Source details :
Page(s) :
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Vol(s) : 128
Source Number : 3
Source : The Yorkshire archaeological journal
Source details : 1951, Plan and illustrations (Hildyard and Wade)
Page(s) : 402-19, 521-2
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 37
Source Number : 19
Source : CfA News: Newsletter of the Centre for Archaeology
Source details : "Roman Catterick: After nearly 40 years of excavations, Caractonium Comes to Life", article by Pete Wilson
Page(s) : 02-Apr
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 3, SUMMER 2002
Source Number : 3a
Source : Britannia monograph series
Source details : Edition Gough, 1806 (Camden)
Page(s) : 336-7
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Vol(s) : 3
Source Number : 3b
Source : Aerial photograph
Source details : DQ80 & DQ86, J K St Joseph, (undated)
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Source Number : 4
Source : The Antiquaries journal : journal of the Society of Antiquaries of London
Source details : H Maclaughlan
Page(s) : 215-6
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 1849
Source Number : 5
Source : The Yorkshire archaeological journal
Source details : 1959, Plans and illustration (EJW Hildyard)
Page(s) : 224-265
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 39
Source Number : 6
Source : The journal of Roman studies
Source details : 1959, (EJW Hildyard)
Page(s) : 108
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) : 49
Source Number : 7
Source : The journal of Roman studies
Source details : 1960, (JS Wacher)
Page(s) : 217-8
Figs. : PLAN
Plates :
Vol(s) : 50
Source Number : 8
Source : Archaeological excavations
Source details : 1971, (S Breckon)
Page(s) : 67
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Monument Types:
Monument Period Name : Roman
Display Date : 80-410
Monument End Date :
Monument Start Date :
Monument Type : Fort, Town, Town Defences, Altar, Town Wall, Building, Courtyard House, Enclosure, Hollow, Path, Road
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit, Find, Cropmark
Monument Period Name : Early Medieval
Display Date : Early Medieval
Monument End Date : 1066
Monument Start Date : 410
Monument Type : Town, Findspot
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit, Find

Components and Objects:
Period : Early Medieval
Component Monument Type : Town, Findspot
Object Type : BROOCH
Object Material :

Related Records from other datasets:
External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : NY 169a
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : NY 169b
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 34733
External Cross Reference Notes :
External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SE 29 NW 3
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :
Associated Monuments : 1031405
Relationship type : Is referred to by
Associated Monuments : 1031439
Relationship type : Is referred to by
Associated Monuments : 52346
Relationship type : Is referred to by
Associated Monuments : 1496533
Relationship type : General association
Associated Monuments : 1496536
Relationship type : General association
Associated Monuments : 1496543
Relationship type : General association
Associated Monuments : 1496578
Relationship type : General association

Related Activities :
Associated Activities : Primary, CATTERICK TOWN WALL
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1849-01-01
End Date : 1849-12-31
Associated Activities : Primary, THORNBROUGH FARM, CATTERICK (CATARACTONIUM)
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1939-01-01
End Date : 1958-12-31
Associated Activities : Primary, CATTERICK BRIDGE (CATARACTONIUM)
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1958-01-01
End Date : 1959-12-31
Associated Activities : Primary, FIELD OBSERVATION ON SE 29 NW 3
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1971-12-08
End Date : 1971-12-08
Associated Activities : Primary, CATTERICK RACECOURSE: INTERIOR
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1984-01-01
End Date : 1984-12-31
Associated Activities : Primary, YORKSHIRE WATER AUTHORITY PIPE TRENCH
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 1989-01-01
End Date : 1989-12-31
Associated Activities : Primary, THORNBROUGH FARM, CATTERICK (CATARACTONIUM)
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1990-01-01
End Date : 1993-12-31
Associated Activities : Primary, PLAYING FIELD, BROMPTON-ON-SWALE
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1992-01-01
End Date : 1992-12-31
Associated Activities : Primary, CATTERICK BRIDGE
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1992-01-01
End Date : 1992-12-31
Associated Activities : Primary, CATTERICK BRIDGE
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 1992-01-01
End Date : 1992-12-31
Associated Activities : Primary, CATTERICK RACE COURSE
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1993-01-01
End Date : 1996-12-31
Associated Activities : Primary, THORNBOROUGH EAST PASTURE (CATTERICK A1 PROJECT)
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 1993-01-01
End Date : 1993-12-31
Associated Activities : Primary, A1 CUTTING (CATTERICK A1 PROJECT)
Activity type : EVALUATION
Start Date : 1993-01-01
End Date : 1994-12-31
Associated Activities : Primary, CATARACTONIUM ROMAN TOWN
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 1994-01-01
End Date : 1994-12-31
Associated Activities : Primary, A6136, CATTERICK ROMAN TOWN
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 1994-01-01
End Date : 1994-12-31
Associated Activities : Primary, CATTERICK ROMAN TOWN
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1995-01-01
End Date : 1995-12-31
Associated Activities : Primary, CATTERICK ROMAN TOWN
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1997-01-01
End Date : 1997-12-31
Associated Activities : Primary, CATTERICK METAL DETECTING PROJECT
Activity type : METAL DETECTING SURVEY
Start Date : 1997-01-01
End Date : 1999-12-31
Associated Activities : Primary, RCHME: CATTERICK PROJECT.
Activity type : AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH INTERPRETATION
Start Date : 1997-04-01
End Date : 1997-08-01
Associated Activities : Primary, LAND AT CATTERICK BRIDGE
Activity type : WATCHING BRIEF
Start Date : 1999-01-01
End Date : 1999-12-31
Associated Activities : Primary, LAND AT CATTERICK RACE COURSE
Activity type : GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY
Start Date : 2006-01-01
End Date : 2006-12-31