Monument details

Summary

Excavations at Heronbridge by B R Hartley 1947-8 & 1953-5 on east side of Watling St. Initial phase of timber & stone buildings from c.AD 90-130,including corn - drying complex & bronze-smith's workshop. Layout of site changed c.AD 130- 40 with construction of stone strip buildings, separated by side streets c.6m wide. Leanto sheds & structures with rooms. Stream bed deepened & revetted with masonry & suggestion it served as small dock & buildings were store houses. VCH disagrees with dock theory because of difficulties with building locks from river. Suggest use as tail-race of mill or tank for water for industrial use. Occupation of buildings north of dock ended in Antonine period, but building south of it was rebuilt late 2nd or early 3rd century. Further work in l958 by F H Thompson & J V H Eaves showed some reconstruction at north boundary, end of 2nd century. Back wall of shed located & poss base of water tank.Occupation into 3rd cenhtury. Trenching to north showed sandstone paving ,thinning out to poss north limit of site.

Monument Types

• BUILDING ( some (1-100), Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• CORN DRYING KILN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• DOCK (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD (?))
• SETTLEMENT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• WALL (Wall-stone some (1-100), Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
• WORKSHOP (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD (?))

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