Monument record MLI30020 - 4th Century Roman Bathhouse and Well, Denton
Summary
A Roman bathhouse dating to the 4th century with hot, cold, and tepid baths, Denton
Type and Period (2)
- BATH HOUSE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
- BATH HOUSE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Full Description
The site of a Roman bathhouse, 100m from the site of a 4th century villa (MLI30018). The site was first identified in 1959 during a survey of a nearby prehistoric site undertaken due to the extent of quarrying in the area, with the bathhouse site having already been stripped down to the natural limestone. Excavation was undertaken between July 1959 and February 1961 when machining permitted access to the archaeological horizon. It appears likely at least some archaeological remains were removed by machine prior to the excavations being undertaken.
The building was arranged along a rectangular plan c.10m long by 6m wide with three rounded apses forming the hot, tepid, and cold baths. The evidence suggests the building was constructed c.360-370, and that it remained in use and was repaired for at least twenty years, with the cold bath being a later addition. The furnace heating the hypocaust appears to have been well used for an extended period of time.
Tesserae were identified throughout the site, although no indication of the pattern was discernible. The bathhouse had painted plaster walls, with red, maroon, pink, green, yellow, and a small quantity of drab-purple recorded along with black and white. While no overall pattern was evident the pieces show stripes and dots, and the prevalence of right-angled green plaster was considered suggestive of green being a main colour for corners.
A well to the immediate southeast of the bathhouse was found to extend down c.6m with pottery at its base dating to the mid to late 4th century, the same as the pottery recovered from the bathhouse suggesting their contemporaneity. A small number of auxiliary ditches possibly functioning as drains were also recorded along with a portion of an “H” shaped building. A paved area to the north of the bathhouse building appears to be of contemporary date.
As was found with the Roman villa to the northeast (MLI30018) inhumation burials were sited within the footprint of the bathhouse (MLI30027), and are likely of a similar, post-Roman/Saxon date.
Sources/Archives (7)
- <1> SLI2986 Index: SMR FILE. DENTON. -,1981, TMA.
- <2> SLI2467 Index: OS CARD INDEX. DENTON. SK 83 SE 12,1965, -.
- <3> SLI715 Article in Serial: Greenfield, Ernest. 1971. LINCOLNSHIRE HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY. -.
- <4> SLI663 Article in Serial: SMITH, J.T.. 1964. Lincolnshire Architectural and Archaeological Society Reports and Papers. Vol 10 part 2, pp.75-104.
- <5> SLI3729 Photograph: City and County Museum. Photograph in the Historic Environment Record files. -.
- <6> SLI46 Artefact: 1972. CITY AND COUNTY MUSEUM COLLECTION 1972. LM35.72.
- <7> SLI8698 Bibliographic Reference: Eleanor Scott. 1993. A Gazetteer of Roman Villas in Britain. p.120.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred SK 8755 3085 (178m by 125m) Estimated from Sources |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | DENTON, SOUTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE |
Related Monuments/Buildings (4)
- Related to: Enclosure, East of Romano-British Bathhouse (Monument) (MLI30028)
- Related to: Mid 4th Century Roman Villa with Mosaics, Denton (Monument) (MLI30018)
- Related to: Romano-British Coin (Find Spot) (MLI30009)
- Related to: Three Undated, Probably Saxon Burials, at the site of a Roman Bathhouse (Monument) (MLI30027)
Related Events/Activities (1)
Please contact the HER for details.
External Links (0)
Record last edited
Jan 9 2025 3:32PM
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