More information : (SJ 563076) Roman Fort (R) (Site of). (1)
The site of a Roman fort of the Claudian era lies 700 yds south of
Wroxeter church. Its size is estimated at 525 ft from west to east
by 470 ft from north to south, covering an area of about 5 1/2
acres. Excavations in 1947 revealed it to be defended by two
V-shaped ditches each 13 ft wide by 6 - 7 ft deep. No remains of
a rampart were recognised. There was evidence of occupation within
the fort, and 1st cent Samian ware was found in the filling of the
ditches (2). APs show a number of rectangular plots 150 ft or more
long, thought to mark the position of timber barracks, and a narrow
ditch to the north which may have been part of the defences of a
temporary camp or annexe (3). (2-5)
At 'A' SJ 56350754 and 'B' 56330768, low ground swellings running
east from the hedge for a few yards, would have been assumed to be
the remains of the rampart of this fort, were it not for the
excavation report. There are no other traces. (6)
Surface finds at this site include the following:- A concentration
of heavy building material in the centre of the lower half of the
fort. This seems unlikely for a fort of this period and may belong
to a later structure.
Two large voussiors found in the south-east part of the fort.
A number of smaller finds, including glass fragments, first century
Samian ware, iron slag and tile fragments. (7)
Air photographs allowed the fort gate nearest the river to be
located. The fan-like spread from this exit raised the possibility
of a small harbour or creek. Other features which were visible
included a modern drain cutting the S. side of the river-side gate
and other lines external to the fort, which the farmer identified
as field drains laid out in the last century.
Excavations were conducted on the area between the fort and the
River Severn. The military gateway was found to be overlain by
decayed paving, which filled the butt-ends of the ditches.
Outside the fort for a distance of c 23m from the exit makeup extended towards the river gradually broadening to a width of 28m, apparently to form a quay. Near the quay edge was a Sampson post-hole 90cm by 70cm. Trodden into the surface of the quay was an As of Claudius (probably an imitation), a bronze key toggle and a dolphin type brooch. A small harbour was located along the quay edge. The total length was 32m with a dished curve of 90o turning riverwards at either end. The harbour face was not vertical but sloped from the
quayside at an average angle of 35o till a depth of 2.8m was
reached after which a gradual fall continued riverwards.
No pottery was found during the excavations, similar to that from
the Wroxeter legionary fortress. The slighting of the defences,
the presence of later pottery up to the mid 2nd century and the rough wide entrance were suggested to imply prolonged civilian
occupation after the departure of the military and the maintainance
of a river crossing. (8-9)
SJ 563076. Wroxeter Roman Fort. Scheduled. (10)(11)
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