Scheduled Monument record MDR5633 - Possible Roman fort, Sawley
Type and Period (1)
- FORTLET ? (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
Protected Status/Designation
Full Description
SK 474313. A small rectangular earthwork, the defences consisting of a rampart some 18ft wide with associated ditch, was found on aerial photographs taken by Dr St Joseph and was subsequently surveyed by the University of Nottingham Department of Civil Engineering. The earthwork has several features, notably a centrally placed gate-opening in the west side with associated external mound, suggestive of a Roman fort, but there are irregularities which inhibit recognition, on present evidence, as a Roman military work. (1)
SK 475313. Sawley. The rampart and ditch (10 to 12ft), interrupted for a gate about the mid-point of the west side, are comparatively well preserved round the whole perimeter. A trial section yielded three fragments of Roman pottery. (2)
Excavation was carried out in 1975 by Derbyshire Archaeological Society. A section cut on the north side of the entrance located the butt-end of the ditch, 3.40m wide and 1.11m deep; no trace of a gateway was found, nor was any dating evidence obtained. (3)
A rampart 50cm wide and 60cm high encloses a rectangle 1.5 acres in area. The site is possibly a Roman fortlet guarding a Trent crossing. Some medieval or post medieval material has been recovered from the site. (4)
Roman fort 200 yds east of All Saints Church, Sawley. Scheduled.(5)
Subrectangular earthwork with rounded corners. Medieval or post-medieval material was recovered from a section by Derby Museum. Drawings by Trent and Peak Archaeol Trust - done by M. Todd ? (7)
A scanner image from the British Geological Survey, centred on fields to the east and south east, shows a variety of features probably associated with old drainage, but forming a rather unusual complex. There may be information of value here for interpreting the setting of the fortlet. (8)
The feature has been interpreted as a garden as it in line with Booth Hall and could be asssociated with the 17th century building. (9)
Sources/Archives (9)
- <1> SDR4507 Article in serial: Todd, M. 1967. 'An earthwork at Sawley, Derbyshire', Derbyshire Archaeological Journal. Vol. 87, pp 165-7, plan.
- <2> SDR8121 Article in serial: St Joseph, J K. 1969. 'Air reconnaissance in Britain, 1965-68', The Journal of Roman Studies. Vol. 59. p 105.
- <3> SDR3430 Bibliographic reference: Goodburn, R. 1976. 'Roman Britain in 1975', Britannia. Vol. 7. p 323.
- <4> SDR15753 Bibliographic reference: Trent Valley Arch Res Comm Gaz c 1980 3.
- <5> SDR5339 Bibliographic reference: DOE (IAM) Record Form 21.3.72.
- <6> SDR1398 Aerial Photograph: APs (Cambs Univ Colln AOA 65-8 70).
- <7> SDR15524 Index: TPAT. 2142. 2142.
- <8> SDR1176 Aerial Photograph: Allsop, J. AP: BGS: J. Allsop (copy in AP Collection: U1).
- <9> SDR22922 Correspondence: Allen, T (English Heritage). 2007. Email correspondence regarding the earthwork feature at Sawley, January 18th, 2007.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred SK 475 314 (100m by 100m) Centre |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | LONG EATON, EREWASH, DERBYSHIRE |
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (3)
- EDR130
- EDR438
- EDR1681
Please contact the HER for details.
External Links (0)
Record last edited
Oct 12 2023 3:44PM