Roman to Anglo-Saxon settlement at Great Dunmow (EHER 9050)

Excavations between 1968 and 1972 uncovered the remains of a minor Roman linear settlement located along Stane Street, extending over 2 to 3 acres occupied from the 1st century AD to the 4th century AD; a Roman cremation cemetery and possible shrine were discovered along with timber buildings. The settlement is considered to be a vicus. An Anglo-Saxon Grubenhaus of 6th to 7th century date was excavated and other sub Roman finds were recorded.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: A small Roman town was present at the junction of a number of Roman roads entering Great Dunmow and an outlying settlement at Church End. Both sites were reoccupied by Saxons. Church end probably became the principal focus for settlement during the Saxon period, for a church dedicated to St Mary the Virgin, was established there before the conquest. A market charter was granted to Simon Fitz-Richard, who held Great Dunmow of the honour of Clare, in 1227. This may have been the occasion for resettlement and the growth of Great Dunmow in later Medieval times. <1> A possible Roman 'Small Town' which developed along Stane Street. Archaeological investigations began in the late 18th century. Excavations in 1970-72 revealed multi-period occupation. A scatter of flint-gritted prehistoric pottery indicates some low-level activity on the site. Roman occupation started in the 1st century AD on apparently virgin ground. The site revealed a rear plot of a property to the north of and presumably fronting Stane Street. Several ditch alignments formed the rear boundary line and possibly a minor road or lane within the small town. A small family cemetery within an enclosure succeeded 2 possible inhumations and spanned a century from later 1st to later 2nd century. Domestic occupation continued into the 4th century. On the west of the site, however, a late 4th century shrine and adjacent building and pits were identified. Associated with them was a large votive deposit of coins and fragments of jewellery. The shrine was rebuilt at the end of 4th century and a little grass-tempered pottery indicates some 5th century occupation. Thereafter the site reverted to agricultural use, part from an interlude in the middle Saxon period when a structure was built in the silted hollow of a Roman gravel pit. Similar pottery found in watching briefs in the same part of the town indicates a larger and more formal Middle Saxon settlement than might have been expected. <2> Dunmow is considered to be a small Roman urban centre at the crossing of Roman roads (RR 30, 32 and 300). No substantial building had been discovered (by 1963) but much Roman building material, pottery, coins etc have been found. Excavations prior to development by Drury between 1968-72 covered 2-3 acres in area TL 626219. Conclusions were that the settlement area uncovered consisted of 1st-4th centuries linear development along Stane Street, on a prominent ridge above the crossing of the River Chelmer. No substantial buildings were found, the major discoveries being: (i) A 1st century timber building 65m by 5.5m. (ii) A 1st century cremation cemetery. (iii) A 3rd century well, 7.0m deep. (iv) An early 4th century two-roomed timber building, probably a shrine. Occupation continuing into the sub-Roman and Saxon periods was evidenced by coin series, pottery and a 6th/7th century sunken hut. Little evidence of pre-settlement Iron Age occupation was found. It seems likely that the Romano-British settlement extended for a 1/4 mile west of the Roman road intersection on both sides of Stane Street, and was probably of 'vicus' status, the lowest grade of self-governing settlement. <3> <4> See also: <5> - <12>