Element record MCC658 - Roman timber water-main, Balkerne Hill, Colchester
Summary
Location
Grid reference | Not recorded |
---|---|
Map sheet | Not recorded |
1848 Parish | ST PETER |
Non Parish Area | COLCHESTER, COLCHESTER, ESSEX |
Map
No mapped location recorded.
Type and Period (1)
Full Description
During excavations at Balkerne Lane between 1973-6 (ECC332), a Roman timber-lined water main was discovered. The main consisted of a series of straight wooden pipes about 0.2m in diameter and 2.0-2.5m long. These were held together by flat iron bands hammered into the walls of pipes to form water-tight and pressure resistant joints.
The water-main ran along the southern edge of the main Colchester to London Road (MCC475) and was one of a group (see also MCC653 and MCC657) which lined this route, possibly feeding into the properties which fronted onto the street. The pipes were set into a trench. During the early to middle 2nd century the water-mains were diverted from their course to pass under the southern portal of the Balkerne Gate (MCC555). The pipes were taken from their original position and transferred to a new trench dug into the street for this purpose. The pipes eventually went out of use when the but ends of the town ditch (MCC659) were joined together.<1>
Sources/Archives (1)
- <1> SCC100 Monograph: Crummy, Philip. 1981. CAR 3: Excavations at Lion Walk, Balkerne Lane and Middleborough, Colchester, Essex. 3. p.117.
Finds (0)
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (1)
Record last edited
Oct 14 2016 3:26PM