Monument record MCC2529 - Roman Road from Gosbecks to Colchester

Summary

Roman Road running southwest to northeast from Gosbecks to the junction just southwest of the Roman town.

Location

Grid reference Centred TL 9786 2349 (1912m by 2738m)
Map sheet TL92SE
County ESSEX
Non Parish Area COLCHESTER, COLCHESTER, ESSEX

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

Roman Road running southwest to north east from Gosbecks to the junction just southwest of the Roman town, defined by aerial photography at Gosbecks. Much of the remaining road line has been projected but the road has been excavated at several locations (so the line is quite accurate). The road has not been defined to the south of Gosbecks.<1>

At TL 9731 2275 an excavation by Colchester Archaeological Trust in 1989 cut a section across the road with poor results (MCC8094).<1> The road was sectioned just east of Raynor's Farm at TL 9777 2340 by Rex Hull in 1936 (MCC7087).<2><4>

The western roadside ditch, and part of the metalling, was defined adjacent to the temple-tomb (MCC2791) at Colchester Royal Grammar School in 2005, at the point where major roads intersect (London Road, MCC1928). To the north of this junction, the road alters alignment very slightly eastwards (for 600m), towards the Balkerne Gate (MCC555), recorded as MCC475. Southwards, it is 3.3km long. The road also alters alignment very slightly, southwards, at Gosbecks.<5>

The ditches were defined by geophysical survey at TL 9731 2275 in 2015 (ECC3580).<3>

The enclosure surrounding Gosbecks theatre (MCC2831) fronts the west side of this road.

Archaeological monitoring during the groundworks for a new extension at 36 Cambridge Road in 2019 defined the metal surface of the road and also two ditches (ECC4372).<6>

Sources/Archives (7)

  • --- Geophysical Report: Murray, M., Lane, C. & Wilkinson, D.. Geophysical Survey Report of Land to the south of Gosbecks View, Colchester, Essex.
  • <1> Serial: Hawkes, Christopher, F. C. & Crummy, Philip. 1995. CAR 11: Camulodunum II. 11. p.121 & Figs. 5.1 & 6.1.
  • <2> Monograph: Hull, M.R.. 1958. Roman Colchester: Reports of the Research Committee of the Society of Antiquaries of London. No. XX. pp.9-10 & Fig. 2 no. 1. IV Colchester to Maldon.
  • <3> Geophysical Report: Roseveare, M.J. and Lewis, D.. 2015. Land at Gosbecks Farm, Gosbecks Way, Colchester. Geophysical Survey Report..
  • <4> Serial: Hawkes, Christopher, F. C. & Crummy, Philip. 1995. CAR 11: Camulodunum II. 11. p.138, Fig. 6.1, no. 73.
  • <5> Watching Brief Report: Brooks, Howard (CAT). 2006. A Roman temple-tomb at Colchester Royal Grammar School, 6 Lexden Road, Colchester, Essex. August-September 2005. CAT Report 345.
  • <6> Watching Brief Report: Hicks, Elliott, Crummy, Philip and Pooley, Laura. 2019. Archaeological monitoring at 36 Cambridge Road, Colchester, Essex, CO3 3NR. CAT Report 1469.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

Related Monuments/Buildings (4)

Related Events/Activities (7)

Record last edited

Feb 16 2023 6:12PM

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