Monument record 7429 - Roman Settlement, Stockton Heath Primary School

Excavations carried out in 2007 within the footprint of a new school building revealed part of a major Roman road (CHER 436/1/18), a group of cremation burials (CHER 7429) and evidence of extensive occupation and activity (this monument).

Phase 1, dated to the late first or early second century contained Structure 1, comprised of two beam slots forming the northeast corner of a building, and pottery dating to not earlier than the late first century were recovered from the secondary fill of one (1). Phase 2 saw the establishment of a series of enclosure ditches on either side of the road, and all respecting its alignment; the full dimensions of the enclosures and the character of their interiors could not be established as they lay largely outside the excavation area. Four structures or buildings were assigned to this phase, Structure 2 was a rectangular timber building, comprised of a series of parallel beam slots forming the long axis of the building. A worn coin of Trajan was in the secondary fill of one slot, providing a terminus post quem of AD 101 - 111 (1). Structure two seemed to have a largely open internal space, with two hearths represented by areas of cobbles and red burnt clay set in shallow hollows. Finds suggested a mid-second century date. Structure 3 was a relatively narrow building with a series of internal post holes. Structures 4 and 5 were both only partially exposed.

A sandstone lined well (0.9m in diameter) was situated in the southwest corner of Enclosure 2, and its backfill produced Samian ware dating to AD 120 - 150 (1). Only 1.5m of fill was excavated, and it is possible deeper remains of this feature survive below the current school building. Three large pits, one of which may have also been a well, were excavated to the west of the road, all three produced pottery dating to the second century.

Phase 2b revealed evidence of repairs to some of the timber structures, and the construction of several ovens (1). If Oven 1 serves as an example, it was comprised of an area of burnt red clay set within a cut. The vestigial remains of a shallow flue were recorded, and at the south end of the flue was an area of cobblestones. Patchy areas of burnt clay, pierced with small holes, spread out from the oven. Similar perforated clay features that were associated with iron-working surfaces were recorded during excavations in Roman Manchester and Northwich (1).

Finally, Phase 3 of this sites dates to the later second century and seems to represent a period of decreasing use and decline. Only a small number of ephemeral features containing late second century pottery have been recorded. This was followed by Phase 4, where there was evidence for the building of a timber structure and associated oven, post dating second century features and thought to date to the third century (1). Other features containing burnt clay were also identified and may have been additional ovens (1).

<1> Dodd L., 2010, Excavation of a Roman roadside settlement at Stockton Heath, Warrington 2007 (Article in Journal). SCH6911.

<2> Earthworks Archaeological Services, 2005, Proposed Development at Stockton Heath Primary School, Warrington, R2578 (Client Report). SCH4716.