Information for record number MWA420:
Watling Street Roman Road

Summary Watling Street, a Roman road running from London to Wroxeter which passes through Warwickshire.
What Is It?  
Type: Road
Period: Romano-British (43 AD - 409 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Caldecote
District: North Warwickshire, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 42 91
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Picture(s) attached

  
Description

  
Source Number  

1 The early Watling Street, at Mancetter, appears to have been about ten feet wide and south of the present line.
2 In 1975 a proton magnetometer survey was carried out. Also in 1975 two trenches were cut, the first revealed the road ditch of Watling Street. It was found to be of two periods and contained pottery, some ironwork and a Trumpet brooch.
3 This from London to Wroxeter, and acts as Warwickshire County boundary with Leicestershire for some distance. Constant use through many centuries has presumably destroyed almost everywhere its Roman surface. However, there is a story that during the sewage works in Atherstone in 1868, the old Roman paving was found at varying depths, marked with the grooves of Chariot wheels, and laid in slabs like those of the forum in Rome. It is not known how true this story is.
4 Watling Street in Warwickshire is very straight and generally raised by 1-2 foot, except where somewhat sunken in climbing over hills. Stretton House (south of Hinckley): modern road diverted slightly. Near Caldecote, just after crossing a railway, a slight but definite turn is made more to the westward, and this new alignment is followed rigidly for seven miles through Atherstone to Dordon. A mile north west of Caldecote is a branch road to Leicester. North west of Atherstone the road is again very straight, but not so noticeably raised, and just beyond Dordon, on a high point, the alignment is again changed to bear a little more westward.
5 A possible roadside ditch to Watling Street was identified during an evaluation in 2013. The ditch was very wide and not fully excavated. It was aligned parallel to the line of the road and contained a sherd of Roman pottery.
 
Sources
Source No: 4
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Roman Roads in Britain
Author/originator: Margary, I D
Date: 1973
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Mancetter File-notes
Author/originator:
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Victoria County History, vol 1, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Doubleday H A & Page W (eds)
Date: 1904
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 1
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Evaluation Report
Title: Land off Watling Street, Mancetter, Archaeological Evaluation
Author/originator: Haines C
Date: 2013
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Report No 13328
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Serial
Title: TBAS vol 72
Author/originator: Oswald and Gathercole
Date: 1954-1
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 72
   
Images:  
A section of Watling Street Roman Road north of Caldecote
Copyright: WA Baker
Date: 1959
Click here for larger image  
 
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
source TBAS Transactions of the Birmingham and Warwickshire Archaeological Society is a journal produced by the society annually. It contains articles about archaeological field work that has taken place in Birmingham and Warwickshire in previous years. Copies of the journal are kept by the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
technique Magnetometer Survey A magnetometer survey measures the earth's magnetic field and the effects that structures in the ground may have on it. For example, walls, pits and trenches might display different levels of magnetism than the surrounding ground. These differences can affect the readings taken during the survey. Once the readings have been recorded they are plotted out to produce a plan of features that exist below the ground. See also geophysical survey. back
period Modern The Modern Period, about 1915 AD to the present (the 20th and 21st centuries AD)

In recent years archaeologists have realised the importance of recording modern sites. They do this so that in the future people will be able to look at the remains to help them understand the events to which they are related.
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period Roman About 43 AD to 409 AD (the 1st century AD to the 5th century AD)

The Roman period comes after the Iron Age and before the Saxon period.

The Roman period in Britain began in 43 AD when a Roman commander called Aulus Plautius invaded the south coast, near Kent. There were a series of skirmishes with the native Britons, who were defeated. In the months that followed, more Roman troops arrived and slowly moved westwards and northwards.
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period modern About 1915 AD to the present (the 20th and 21st centuries AD)

In recent years archaeologists have realised the importance of recording modern sites. They do this so that in the future people will be able to look at the remains to help them understand the events to which they are related.
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monument FORUM * A large, rectangular open space at the centre of a Roman town, incorporating public spaces and a market area. back
monument HOUSE * A building for human habitation, especially a dwelling place. Use more specific type where known. back
monument COUNTY BOUNDARY * The limit line of a county. back
monument ROAD * A way between different places, used by horses, travellers on foot and vehicles. back
monument SEWAGE WORKS * A group of buildings in which local sewage is filtered and purified in large rectangular or circular tanks. back
monument TRENCH * An excavation used as a means of concealment, protection or both. back
monument DITCH * A long and narrow hollow or trench dug in the ground, often used to carry water though it may be dry for much of the year. back
monument RAILWAY * A line or track consisting of iron or steel rails, on which passenger carriages or goods wagons are moved, usually by a locomotive engine. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record