Roman road junction and timber buildings at 32-33 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford (EHER 5881)

Excavation in Moulsham Street located the junction of the main roads of Caesaromagus; Roman timber buildings were also found.

1974. Archaeological excavation. Excavations at 32-33 Moulsham Street located the junction of the two principal streets of Caesaromagus. The primary metalling of the road to the south east covered the sides and bottom of a ditch associated with the London-Colchester Road. The corner areas were occupied by a succession of timber structures. To the north, buildings a spread of gravel metalling contemporary with the road. <1> <2> Probably, the London-Colchester Road (EHER 80645) pre-dates the road leading to the south east, as the metalling of the latter overlay the sides and bottom of the former's ditch. The lack of silt below the ditch metalling causes doubt as to this conclusion however. The side road was approximately 6.5m wide and was slightly terraced. During the Roman period it moved approximately 3m to the north. The gravel metalling to the north, overlain by buildings, could be the edge of a market place, subsequently built on. <3> NRHE data transfer: no new information.