Monument Type(s):

• EXTRA MURAL SUBURB (Roman - 43 AD to 410 AD)

Summary

Extensive extramural area of Wroxeter civitas capital. The area lies between the town defences (PRN 06482) and a fairly arbitrary limit to the N,W S and E of the town, including an area W of the River Severn. This area includes cemetery areas, extensive cropmarks and industrial production sites.

Related records

Associated Finds

• FSA2665 - SHERD (Roman - 43 AD to 410 AD)

Associated Events

• ESA4783 - 2002 WB on Land Drain Renovation at Wroxeter by BUFAU (Ref: BUFAU 935)
• ESA5724 - 1994 evaluation at Wroxeter Vineyard by Earthworks Archaeological Services
• ESA6155 - 2007 WB at Wroxeter Roman Vineyard, Shropshire, by SCCAS
• ESA6402 - 2010 evaluation at Wroxeter Roman Vineyard by Birmingham Archaeology
• ESA6438 - 2010 WB at Mytton Antiques, Attingham Estate, Shropshire by Birmingham Archaeology
• ESA4821 - 2000 Evaluation of Penwood, Wroxeter by Castlering Archaeology
• ESA4201 - 1993 WB on drainage works at Norton Crossroads, Wroxeter by SCCAS
• ESA8016 - 2016 WB at New House Barn, Wroxeter by Castlering Archaeology (Ref: 15/00899/FUL)
• ESA8648 - 2018 WB on land at The Boathouse, Wroxeter by Castlering Archaeology
• ESA9313 - 2020 Trial trench at The Boathouse, Wroxeter by Nigel Baker (Ref: 20/01199/FUL)

Description

CMHTS Comment:- Extensive extramural area of Wroxeter civitas capital. The area lies between the town defences (SA 6482) and a fairly arbitrary limit to the N,W S and E of the town, including an area W of the River Severn. This area includes enclosures (SA 459 and SA 460) W of the river. Also included are cemetery areas (SA 75, SA 6426, SA 6428, SA 6475, SA 6424, SA 67), extensive cropmarks (eg SA 30) and industrial production sites (SA 90, SA 130). The component is defined to be inclusive. <1>

CMHTS Report. <2>

A watching brief was carried out on the renovation of land drains to the SE of Wroxeter's defences in 2002, at SJ 5685 0820. No archaeological features associated with the defences were recorded. A small area of rubble was observed during the watching brief. Subsequently, a small scale resistivity survey was carried out across an area adjacent to the brook heading SE from Wroxeter; an anomaly interpreted as a small building was recorded (see PRN 30943). Surface finds suggested that this building may be a bath house, possibly associated with the vicus to the west. If confirmed, this building belongs to a small number known in the immediate vicinity of Wroxeter. This building appeared to belong to a phase pre-dating the construction of the defences (PRN 06482), which would have considerably hampered access to this building. <3>

In 2007 a watching brief was carried out at c. SJ 565 080 south of the scheduled area where there was a proposal to build a house. No archaeological features or deposits were seen in the excavations of the foundation trenches nor were any artefacts recovered from the top soil. Exact location of site as yet unknown. <4>

In March 2010 Birmingham Archaeology carried out an archaeological evaluation ahead of a planning application for the construction of two bungalows at NGR SJ 5654 0808. The two trial trenches found no archaeological features, deposits or finds, suggesting that the general area was not intensively occupied in the Roman period.<5>

In 2010 an archaeological watching brief was undertaken in respect of a new drainage system at Mytton Antiques, Attingham Estate, Shropshire at NGR SJ 567096. No archaeological features, structures, deposits or horizons were identified during the course of the groundworks. No artefactual material predating the modern period was recovered. Possible reasons for the absence of archaeological evidence include recent landscaping activity within the area. Early re-used Roman masonry, most likely robbed from nearby Wroxeter, is evident at places in Norton; however, despite the potential of the development site, the watching brief identified no roman archaeological remains within the area. <6>

In November 1993 a watching brief was carried out on the easement of a new drain along the south side of the B5061 to the north of the northern defences, c. SJ 5617 0947, where cropmark features (PRN 00030) have been interpreted as an area of urban development outside the northern defences. Despite the poor conditions for observation, it was possible to identify a number of significant archaeological features in the cut for the new road drain. Burnt deposits encountered at the western end of the easement, possibly of Roman date, suggested industrial activity in this area of extramural settlement. In addition, a series of ditches were identified, part of trackways previously identified as cropmarks across this area. <7>

A single evaluation trench was excavated at Penwood, to the S of the defences at Wroxeter (centred on SJ 5369 0805). No archaeological finds or features were recorded. The houseowner, Mr Timmins, stated that during the excavations for the main house, in the 1970s, Dr. AWJ Houghton, whilst working nearby, visited the site and looked at the foundation excavations. He recorded no archaeological features. Examination of a variety of sources indicate that, if Dr Houghton did visit the site, he did not record his observations. A small collection of randomly distributed Roman pottery sherds were also recovered. <8>

Photographed during aerial survey in 2013. These show the pipeline excavations at Norton Farm in progress (ESA6964). <9>

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken in 2016 during ground disturbing works in association with the conversion of a redundant agricultural barn into a dwelling on land at New House, Wroxeter (SJ 5639 0805). No evidence of settlement associated with the Roman legionary fortress or town was uncovered during the current work and no finds were recovered. <10>

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken in 2018 during foundation trenching at The Boathouse, Wroxeter (centred on SJ 56188 08154), just outside the Scheduled Area. No archaeological features were uncovered and no finds recovered. The watching brief confirmed the nature of the artificial platform on which the property stands and that the groundworks recently undertaken have had no impact on the archaeological resource or Scheduled Area. <11>

A trial trench was undertaken in 2020 to the E of The Boathouse (centered on SJ 5619 0817) in advance of the construction of an extension to the rear of the house. The trench found a layer of colluvial subsoil on the slope, containing Roman pottery and a mortar spread, possibly relating to a robbed-out wall footing. <12>

Sources

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