Monument record MLI54212 - Roman Vexillation Fortress, Newton on Trent

Summary

Remains of a Roman vexillation fortress, to the south-west of Newton on Trent.

Type and Period (3)

Protected Status/Designation

Full Description

The site of a Roman fort discovered by air photography. Nothing is visible on the ground which is partly arable and partly pasture. The fort overlooks the remains of what are thought to be two temporary precursor camps located to the immediate south (see PRN 50546). Roman artefacts have been found on the site, including a Roman denarius coin, reportedly of 'Cnaius Foulvius' (c.106 BC), though this identification has not been confirmed. {1}{2}{3}{4}{5}{6}{7}{8}{9}{10}{11} A resistivity survey of part of the north-west corner of the site (under pasture) was carried out in early 1984 to attempt to trace and define any western defences. The line of the twin ditches of the northern defences were clearly indicated, but it was not possible to identify any internal features other than a ditch aligned north to south. The excavation of a trial trench across the internal ditch revealed a sand-filled v-shaped ditch with an 'ankle-breaker' slot. The ditch was 1.5m wide and 1.4m deep, the 'ankle-breaker' was 0.15m wide and 0.1m deep. No other features were visible in the trial trench, although a rough scatter of stones to the west were tentatively interpreted as the remains of a laid surface. There were no finds. {12}{13} The fort and its associated outworks were discerned during analysis of aerial photographs in 2010. Three sides of the fort were visible as cropmarks - it may be that the fourth side of the fort was provided by the cliff overlooking the River Trent. The fort appears as a large, rectilinear, double-ditched enclosure with well-rounded corners. Breaks in the ditches at SK 8238 7356 and SK 8234 7391 appear to mark entrance ways. The fort is encircled on three sides by a series of staggered and overlapping ditches, also visible as cropmarks. These are likely to have been created as the outwork defences. A small section of internal ditch is also visible as a cropmark. {14} The fortress at Newton on Trent lies on a ridge above the River Trent, adjacent to a river crossing on the boundary of territory controlled by the Corieltauvi. Its location suggests that in addition to guarding the river crossing, it was built as part of a line of vexillation fortresses along the Trent designed to intimidate the Brigantes to the north, while providing a line of forward bases for operations in Brigantian territory. If so, the date of construction would be around AD 70. The fortress occupies a strong position at the highest point along the ridge. It is visible as a series of cropmarks and comprises three sides of a double-ditched enclosure with rounded corners. The western edge has been lost due to erosion, although the possibility remains that the fourth side may have been provided by the break of slope of the ridge. The fortress measures 350m from north to south, and between 300 and 390m west to east, enclosing an area of just under 12 hectares. Gaps in the north and south sides probably represent entrances. The fortress is surrounded on three sides by a series of staggered and overlapping ditches that formed an additional set of outworks. A small section of internal ditch is visible near the centre of the enclosure. {15}

Sources/Archives (15)

  •  Scheduling Record: HBMC. 1966. AM 7. -.
  •  Article in Serial: ST JOSEPH, J.K.S.. 1965. JOURNAL OF ROMAN STUDIES. vol.55, pp.74-6.
  •  Article in Serial: ST JOSEPH, J.K.S.. 1969. JOURNAL OF ROMAN STUDIES. vol.59, p.104.
  •  Article in Serial: ST JOSEPH, J.K.S.. 1973. JOURNAL OF ROMAN STUDIES. vol.63, p.214.
  •  Article in Serial: ST JOSEPH, J.K.S.. 1977. JOURNAL OF ROMAN STUDIES. vol.67, p.128.
  •  Aerial Photograph: Paul Everson. 1975-90. RCHM. 2970/11 (1979).
  •  Aerial Photograph: Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. 1946-98. RCHME National Aerial Photograph Collection at Swindon. SF 3206/13-6, 3210/1-11 (1986) CDC.
  •  Aerial Photograph: 1945-84. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY COLLECTION. BUQ17, CDK, BDB3, AGF.
  •  Aerial Photograph: COLE, C.. 1993-2002. InnerVisions Business Presentations. 184/0697/12A, 24A (1997).
  •  Aerial Photograph: RILEY, D.N.. 1938-84. RCHME. 836/26-28 (1976).
  •  Index: Lincolnshire County Council. Sites and Monuments Record Card Index. SK 87 SW: C.
  •  Scheduling Record: HBMC. 1986. AM 107. -.
  •  Article in Serial: BISHOP, M.C. AND FREEMAN, P.W.M.. 1993. BRITANNIA. vol.24, pp.187-9.
  •  Report: Deegan, Alison. 2010. Air Photo Mapping for Land at Newton on Trent. Feature 10.
  •  Website: Historic England (formerly English Heritage). 2011->. The National Heritage List for England. http://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/. 1003608.

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Location

Grid reference Centred SK 8245 7375 (698m by 474m) Estimated from Sources
Civil Parish NEWTON ON TRENT, WEST LINDSEY, LINCOLNSHIRE

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

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Record last edited

Mar 21 2021 8:35PM

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