Monument record MLI70104 - Part of the Colonia defences, Westgate School grounds, Lincoln
Summary
Excavations revealed the earth and timber defences of the legionary fortress, coinciding with the stone wall of the Colonia.
Type and Period (1)
- TOWN DEFENCES (Roman - 43 AD to 99 AD)
Protected Status/Designation
Full Description
PRN 70104
Excavations on the Westgate in 1945 to 1946 proved that the earth and timber defences of the legionary fortress were coincident with the stone wall of the colonia period on the west side. The system of defence was shown to be a timber palisade with the main posts set at five feet intervals in a palisade trench. It was supplemented on the outside by a rock cut v shaped ditch fifteen feet wide and six feet deep and on the inside by a compact earth and stone rampart ten feet wide at the base and seven feet high, presently strengthened by adding timber towers, the construction of which demanded the infilling of the first ditch and the cutting of another ditch further out, later destroyed by the Colonia fosse. {1}{2}{3}
During work on a retaining wall in the grounds of Westgate school, deposits associated with the Roman legionary and Colonia defences were identified. Specifically those were associated with the rampart bank. {4}
An archaeological watching brief maintained by CLAU during ground investigation (boreholes) by Lincs Lab at Westgate Junior School, Westgate, Lincoln was commissioned as a requirement of Scheduled Monument Consent (SAM 115). The results of the investigation supplemented existing information relating to the location and form of the eastern defences of the Roman city. {5}{6}
Sources/Archives (6)
- <1> SLI465 Article in Serial: WEBSTER G. 1949. JOURNAL OF ROMAN STUDIES. VOL 139 PP 57-58.
- <2> SLI3134 Index: SMR file cards for Lincoln. LINCOLN. SK 9772 SW:C -.
- <3> SLI1773 Archive: Archaeological Research Committee. 1946. Westgate, Lincoln. LCNCC 54.77.
- <4> SLI5351 Report: City of Lincoln Archaeology Unit. 1996. Westgate Junior School, Westgate, Lincoln: Archaeological Watching Brief. WGB95.
- <5> SLI9478 Report: City of Lincoln Archaeology Unit. Oct 2003. Ground Investigation at Westgate Junior School, Westgate, Lincoln. ON612.
- <6> SLI9479 Archive: City of Lincoln Archaeology Unit. Oct 2003. Ground Investigation at Westgate Junior School, Westgate, Lincoln.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred SK 9739 7203 (30m by 30m) |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | CASTLE, LINCOLN, LINCOLNSHIRE |
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (3)
External Links (0)
Record last edited
Mar 21 2021 8:35PM
Feedback?
Your feedback is welcome. If you can provide any new information about this record, please contact us.