Monument record MCC733 - Roman street between Insula 35-37 & 27-29, Colchester

Summary

Roman east-west street between Insula 35-37 and 27-29.

Location

Grid reference Centred TL 9963 2511 (231m by 21m)
Map sheet TL92NE
Non Parish Area COLCHESTER, COLCHESTER, ESSEX

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

An east-west Roman Street ran between Insulas 35-37 and 27-29.

Part of it was excavated at Lion Walk between Insulas 28 & 36. Wooden drains ran parallel to the road and it was flanked by footways for pedestrians. A major raising of the street surfaces in the Lion Walk area took place in the Flavian period (AD 69-98) when the existing street surfaces were covered with a thick layer of burnt daub. This was very mixed and probably was of Boudican origin. Considerable quantities of burnt daub must have been amassed during the rebuilding operations in the 60's.<1>

Excavations at Culver Street (Site E) between 1981-2 and 1984-5 (ECC337) revealed that the street was laid out to the east of the via principalis (MCC760) following the demolition of military buildings (see MCC775 and MCC776). There then followed a period when the street was unhealed and the area was utilised for pit digging and saw the accumulation of occupation debris (see MCC773). The street was then metalled to a width of 15.75m, including the footways (MCC788 and MCC789), and lined on either side with timber-framed buildings. During the Boudican revolt it was sealed by destruction debris (p.57).
Following the Boudican revolt the streets and footways were cleared of debris and on the north side of the street was at least one water main (MCC1064) laid in a wide trench and on the south side of the street was a substantial trench which was either the remains of a drainage ditch, or more likely of at least one timber drain. Some pits were dug into the metalling of the street.
During the late 3rd to 4th century a large aisled building (MCC927) encroached from the northern edge of Insula 35 onto the south edge of the street reducing its width from about 9.0m to 6.5m.<2>

Road metalling from this street was also found during excavations at 7-15, Long Wyre Street, 1979 (A shallow drain or ditch separated the street from the footway).<3>

Sources/Archives (4)

  • <1> Monograph: Crummy, Philip. 1981. CAR 3: Excavations at Lion Walk, Balkerne Lane and Middleborough, Colchester, Essex. 3. p73.
  • <2> Monograph: Crummy, Philip. 1992. CAR 6: Excavations at Culver Street, the Gilberd School, and other sites in Colchester 1971-85. 6. p57, 72, p113.
  • <2> Monograph: Crummy, Philip. 1992. CAR 6: Excavations at Culver Street, the Gilberd School, and other sites in Colchester 1971-85. 6. p57.
  • <3> Monograph: Crummy, Philip. 1992. CAR 6: Excavations at Culver Street, the Gilberd School, and other sites in Colchester 1971-85. 6. p358.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (3)

Record last edited

Jan 23 2017 9:22AM

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