Map of Romano-British Town

rbduston


Key to Map

The map is based upon the 1925 edition Ordnance  Survey Map (Northants Sheet XLIV 12, etc.). Unfortunately, three sheets join at this point, hence the aberrations.



The green line defines a boundary from the 1722 map, produced by DFG Publishing Ltd in 1990 and consists of a southwards projection of “Arbourfield".

Field 49    is Lady Hadland above.
Field 50    is Lady Hadland, below
Field 66    is Ox-Close Leys
Fields 82    is Thirteen Furlong

(on some Maps, "Free Oxe Close" (East, adjacent) is included in "Abourfield". Information comes from the previous Lord of the Manors records (Lord Melbourne) and combines data from the 17th century)

Explanations of field names:

"Arbour": Land near or containing an earthwork

"Lady Hadland": Corrupted from of "My Lady's Headland" - church land - St Luke's also carries a dedication to "St Mary"), land dedicated to the "Blessed Virgin".

"Leys": Meadow land.

"13 Furlongs": A close consisting of 13 divisions of the former common field. In this case, "Arbour Field", the others being "Langdole Field” and "Middle Field", giving a three-field system, plus heathland on the high ground. (John Field - English Field names, 1972).

The Pale Blue Area Suggests where the Romano-British fortress may underlie, with a possible ditch, corner left at "V" alongside the footpath (of today, Abbey Street to Sixfields Stadium)

The Orange Area Suggests an outline for the later Roman town.

The Purple Feature Crossed by an ironstone railway line (I) is the approx. position of the only archaeological dig by Dr Williams in the 1970's – a fraction of the available area.

The Brown Lines (F) Are footpaths.

(WL) Is the possible water leat serving the town from Duston.

(q) Is a quarry face - the area was extensively quarried from 1853-1908, but not entirely. The railway marshalling yards in Field 50 protected some of it. Field 66 is below the ironstone and would not have been quarried.

(B) Brickyard Road - the old Duston turn - the Romano-British cemetery area and the Romano-British crossroads.

(D) The New Duston Road (moved here 1883/84)

(R-D) The Black Line The line originally thought to be the course of the Romano-British road.

(R-B) The Red Lines The most up-to-date lines showing probable course of the Romano-British road, following the receipt of Dr Williams' archaeological maps and several years of research.

For a fuller examination and review, visit Northants Record Office or Northampton Central Library Local Studies Collection and ask to see the Romano-British Map 2001 of Roman Duston (5000-1), plus the Discussion Paper - Roman Town At Sixfields, Northampton, 2001.

Please acknowledge Ordnance Survey, D.F.G. Publishing and St Luke's Archaeology, Duston if downloading.

This map and key was kindly contributed by St Luke's Archaeology (SLA).

See Also

Duston in Roman Times

Roman Road in Duston

Roman Town in Duston

Roman Finds in Duston

 

 

Go to top