Monument record MLI85944 - Site of Roman public building, Grantham Street, Lincoln
Summary
Site of Roman public building (possibly a Basilica or church)
Type and Period (5)
- BASILICA ? (Roman - 275 AD? to 409 AD)
- WALL (Roman to Early Medieval/Dark Age - 275 AD? to 899 AD)
- TESSELLATED FLOOR (Roman - 275 AD? to 409 AD)
- COURTYARD (Roman to Early Medieval/Dark Age - 275 AD? to 899 AD)
- CHURCH ? (Roman - 275 AD? to 409 AD)
Protected Status/Designation
Full Description
PRN 70360
In 1972 excavations on the north-eastern side of Grantham Street revealed a fragment of what was then interpreted to be a late third or early fourth century Roman building with an eastern apse and north aisle, and possibly 60m long by 25m wide. Unfortunately, excavation to the west in 1981 and to the south in 1982 failed to locate any further evidence for this building, the deposits had apparently been destroyed. A Tuscan stone capital, mortared/tessellated floor, imported marble inlays, window glass and several late conical beakers give some idea of its quality. Its construction could be associated with the city's elevation to capital status, but its function remains uncertain, and its full plan similarly so. Nevertheless, its apparent scale and layout suggests that it might be an assembly or audience hall for official purposes (as a Basilica) or as a church. The destruction debris of the building contained post-Roman finds (including several fragments of window glass and vessel glass provisionally dated to the 7th to 9th centuries), and it seems probable that the building continued to stand, in part at least, into the 8th or 9th century. In the 9th century, a dark brown loam was deposited over all the site except for the area inside the building, implying that the interior may have been occupied or, at least, in use. However, the function of the building at this time is unknown. The first quarrying of stone from the walls of the building (robbing out) began at some point in the 10th century. Robbing out continued throughout the 11th century, ending at some time during the late 12th century when the area was re-developed (PRN 70359). {1}{2}
An archaeological watching brief was undertaken during the construction of new student accommodation, associated storage areas and services fronting onto Swan Street and Grantham Street, Lincoln. The watching brief identified the outline of a building with the remains of internal floors, an associated external surface and a boundary wall recorded as being robbed out in the 12th century. It is tentatively suggested that some of the walls robbed out in the 12th century may have belonged to the late Roman public building. Unfortunately the surviving evidence was too fragmentary to allow confident interpretation. {3}{4}
Residual Roman building tile fragments, including imbrex and tegula pieces, were found during a watching brief at 29-31 The Strait. These, along with pottery dating to the 3rd to 4th Century AD, suggest a Romano-British building nearby. {5}{6}
Sources/Archives (6)
- <1> SLI9230 Bibliographic Reference: Perring, D.. 1981. Early Medieval Occupation at Flaxengate, Lincoln. Volume IX-1. pages 5-6.
- <2> SLI9142 Bibliographic Reference: Jones, Michael, J; Stocker, D.; and Vince, A.. 2003. The City by the Pool including LARA. pages 88-89, 129.
- <3> SLI9228 Report: Lindsey Archaeological Services. Apr 2004. Archaeological Watching Brief, Grantham Street, Lincoln.. LGS03.
- <4> SLI9229 Archive: Lindsey Archaeological Services. Apr 2004. Archaeological Watching Brief, Grantham Street, Lincoln.. LCNCC 2003.290.
- <5> SLI11869 Report: Archaeological Project Services. Feb 2008. Archaeological Watching Brief at 29-31 The Strait, Lincoln. LIST06.
- <6> SLI11870 Archive: Archaeological Project Services. Feb 2008. Archaeological Watching Brief at 29-31 The Strait, Lincoln. LCNCC 2006.282.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred SK 97639 71466 (54m by 33m) |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | ABBEY, LINCOLN, LINCOLNSHIRE |
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (3)
External Links (0)
Record last edited
Mar 21 2021 8:35PM
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