Archaeological remains shed new light on Roman Whitchurch

Archaeologists from the Environment Agency, Shropshire Council’s historic environment team and Salford University have unearthed important new evidence of life in Roman Whitchurch, including pottery and leather children’s shoes.

The archaeological remains were found during work by the Environment Agency to replace a partially collapsed culvert carrying the Staggs Brook in Whitchurch. The site, just to the south of London Road, lies on the edge of the historic town centre and just beyond the likely edge of the Roman settlement.

Before the project began it was identified that the line of the culvert to the south of London Road had some potential to contain historic remains. As a result archaeologists from the Centre for Applied Archaeology at Salford University were on hand when work for the new culvert began.

However, the archaeologists were surprised to discover an unexpectedly rich series of waterlogged deposits that included the remains of a wooden trackway, a number of structural timbers, a large amount of Roman pottery and, most importantly of all, fifteen leather shoes. Both adult and children’s shoes were present, a number of which were complete and included impressed decoration.

The Roman Army established a fort at Whitchurch on the line of Watling Street midway between Wroxeter and Chester before 70 AD. This was used for about 40 years before being abandoned and levelled, after which a civilian settlement took its place. By the early 2nd century AD this had spread southwards along the road. The town, known as Mediolanum, was provided with earthen defences in about 170AD and at a later date a stone wall was added to the front of the rampart. The town lasted until at least the 4th century.

The finds that were recovered during the construction of the new culvert were preserved by the wet silts along the side of the brook. Work remains ongoing but archaeologists think that the trackway lay immediately beyond the edge of the Roman town and crossed the wet valley bottom. The other finds appear to result from the dumping of rubbish along the edge of an open stream.

Andy Wigley, natural and historic environment manager at Shropshire Council, said:

“My team was pleased to be able to assist the Environment Agency, their engineering consultants Keir, and the archaeologists from Salford University with this project. The finds from this site are hugely important for Shropshire and will give us invaluable new insights into everyday life in Roman Whitchurch.”

Ian Gemmell, Project Manager from the Environment Agency, said:

"It was a great surprise to discover these significant finds during our excavation work to replace the damaged culvert. While we knew it was possible that some Roman artefacts could be present, we did not expect to find items of such importance. We are delighted by the opportunity this now affords the local community to study and learn what the Romans and townsfolk were doing alongside this now buried watercourse.”