![[ sketch ]](../images/db02.gif)
Removal of Rainbird trench continued and cleaning off of cobbles at west side of site was begun. The schoolyard wall was demolished. The pit at the end of trial trench 2 was bottomed in order to ascertain depth of wall - 5 courses in all, suggesting that it survives to 6 courses further north. Noted that fill of Rainbird trench different to anything yet encountered on site.
Frost on site at arrival. Realised that Roman building was in fact centurion's/decurion's quarters, two eastern corners of which survive. At the north end, an additional mortared wall is on a slightly different alignment and may be a later addition, or may be modern. Cleaning of cobbles at west side continued.
Drain found in T2 cuts through west wall of building (cf Housesteads). There is a possible entrance at the south-east corner. A sondage was begun in the north-east corner of the block to investigate any surviving levels, since the pit at the end of T2 is unhelpful in this respect.
A feature in the cobbles on the west side consisting of four stones with a face in line bears close resemblance to a rampart revetting wall (cf Housesteads) suggesting that this cobbling is a late surface of the via sagularis. A piece of gutter stone came from the Rainbird trench, probably Roman from the eavesdrip of the barrack. Another piece is still in the fill at the bottom of the trench. This is moving into the waterlogged levels (the water table seems to coincide with the bottom of the lowest course of the wall in T2). Area in south west of site being cleared produced area of ?tumbled rubble/rounded stones, the nature of which is unclear.
Site was visited by Messrs. Bidwell, Hodgson, Holbrook, &
Speke.
Heavy showers of rain all day leading to cessation of work several times - site becomes unworkable after only a few minutes rain, barrow runs dangerous, trample everywhere. Second gutter block retrieved from Rainbird trench. Northern part of Rainbird trench (beyond T2) delineated and removal begun. Cleaning of rubble in south west corner continued, where there is as yet no sign of the barrack wall. Removal of east wall on site continued.
The day Mrs T. bit the dust. Heavy rain first thing rendered the site unworkable in the morning so time was spent trying to locate a ploythene greenhouse and find a solution to the barrow runs. In the afternoon the site was sprayed down and cleaning off resumed. North wall of centurion's block is now visible at a number of points, including the north-west corner. In south-west corner there is an area of flagging (at least 3 phases?) and rubble overlying the barrack wall (we assume) which is producing rich deposits of Roman pottery.
Site visit by Mary Lakin, John Pickin and also the castle diggers.
This page last updated May 1st 1997
