Site of Roman shore fort 'Othona', Bradwell-on-Sea (EHER 31)

Now destroyed. The site of a Roman fort, situated at Bradwell-on-Sea to defend the 'Saxon shore' and thought to be that called 'Othona' in the 'Notitia Dignitatum'. Only three sides of the fort remain, the fourth (seaward/Eastern) side has been undermined by the waves. The walls have been almost completely flattened, probably by cultivation. The foundations were constructed using boulders and rough stone with a rubble-mortar core, and faced with small squared stones, bonded at intervals by tiles. The site was rediscovered in 1864 and excavated by the landowner John Oxley Parker who established the plan of the fort as rectangular, though the North and South sides are not perfectly parallel. Also recorded were the foundations of two towers on the Western side, one horse-shoe shaped bastion at the NW corner and one semi-circular 'interval' tower to its South. In 1927, M.R. Hull recorded indications of another interval tower about half-way between the SW angle and the chapel. The chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall (EHER 32) is built from Roman materials and sits on the site of the West gate. Oxley Parker also attempted to locate buildings on the interior of the fort through the excavation of narrow East-West trenches, but was unsuccessful. The site was excavated again in 1947 by Major J.G.S Brinson who cut a section across the West defences to locate the fort wall and its ditch. Whilst he failed to locate the edges of the ditch, it was noted that a marked roll in the ground behind the North and West walls prove its former existence. The bright clay of an upcast mound was said to be still visible in 1960. Since the mid 20th century, the site has continued to be examined by field visits, aerial photographs and fieldwalking surveys, and most notably was subject to an extensive research programme in the late 1990s, the Othona environs project. This comprised a desk-based assessment, landscape survey, geophysical survey, fieldwalking survey, aerial photograph interpretation and excavation of a test pit to assess past and continuing damage, and the archaeological potential for future research. The landscape survey discovered that, in 2000, the only standing remains of the fort are fragments of the South wall, visible to a heigh of 0.80in. The geophysical survey identified evidence of internal structures including that of a possible barrack block. The site is a Scheduled Monument. Summary from record 18920: A survey of the fort and its environs was conducted.

The following is a description of the work which has been undertaken at the fort. For a more detailed account up to 1991, see <1>. See also <2>. 1864-1865. Discovery and archaeological excavation. Excavations for a new sea wall at Bradwell-on-Sea by the South Essex Reclamation Company accidentally encountered 'part of the foundations of important buildings in the solid land' at the South side of the fort. This was brought to the attention of the landowner, John Oxley Parker, who recognised the remains as that of the Roman fort known of at Bradwell, and promptly conducted an excavation to investigate the masonry. The excavation was carried out higher in the field, in attempt to trace the extent of the walls. <3> In 1865, it was reported that the foundations of the North, South and West walls of the fort had been discovered. They were described as 'upwards of fourteen feet in width, and on the Western side are the foundations of two towers, one of which is semi-circular, the other horse-shoe form'. The foundations were constructed using boulders and rough stone with a rubble-mortar core, and faced with small squared stones, bonded at intervals by tiles. An extant section of wall was observed on the South side, standing 6-8ft high and with a lower course of projecting tiles. The main entrance to the fort was interpreted as being in the centre of the West wall, and the foundations of this entrance were proposed to extend into the central area of the fort by some 20ft, underneath the chapel (EHER 32). <4> Intensive excavations in 1865 were focussed on the interior of the fort in order to attempt to locate buildings. The nature of this approach was not well-documented but a drawing by the Rev. H.M. Milligan suggests the site was trenched with widely-spaced narrow trenches aligned East-West. This method did not yield any results. <1> A significant number of inhumation burials had also been revealed by the excavations, described by one observer as being ‘close to the wall, buried only about 2 ft deep’ and ‘in every case a Roman coin lies close to the ribs, as if it had been placed at the burial within the hands, or under the tongue of the deceased’. These burials were thought to be Roman. Distinct from these were more bodies: ‘five perfect skeletons, all laid out at full length, but somewhat in confusion, and with the faces downwards’ which were interpreted as the bodies of persons killed in fighting, ‘most likely Saxon, or Danish aggressors’, but in fact none is likely to belong to the Roman period. Their location within the fort makes a Roman date improbable, and it is much more likely that they relate to the Saxon phase of the site and are associated with the use of the chapel (see EHER 81396). <2> 1914-1918. Chance find. During the First World War, several cinerary urns were found by the troops when digging trenches along the edge of the camp about three feet below the surface. <1> June 1924, revised January 1996. Scheduled Ancient Monument. The monument includes a Saxon Shore fort which was subsequently reused as an Anglo-Saxon monastery (EHER 32), situated on the Eastern tip of the Dengie Peninsular, between the River Blackwater to the North and the River Crouch to the South. The Eastern part of the site, including the East wall, has been undermined by the sea and washed away. It is thought that the fort was originally rectangular in plan. The line of the Western and Northern defences is partly visible at the ground surface as an earthwork bank and a short section of standing masonry, representing the South wall survives on this side. The foundations of two bastions were recognised during excavations in 1864. At the NW corner, the bastion was horse-shoe shaped in plan whilst further South, along the West wall the second bastion was semicircular. These bastions are believed to have been solid. The wall was more than 14 feet thick. The defences included an inner rampart with an exterior masonry face surrounded by a berm and outer ditch, which has become silted up over the years. These defences enclose an area which now covers about 2ha, although it may originally have been nearer 3ha. <5> <6> Saxon Shore fort and Anglo-Saxon monastery at Bradwell-on-Sea. <7> 1927. Field visit. M.R. Hull recorded indications of another interval tower about half-way between the SW angle and the chapel. <8> 1927-1954. Levelling of the site. The manuscript copy of the Roman Essex volume of the Victoria County History states that the site (in particular the 1864-5 excavation trenches) was bull-dozed level by the farmer at some date between 1927 and 1954. <9> August-September 1947. Archaeological excavation. The Roman Essex Society, under the direction of Major J.G.S. Brinson excavated a section across the West defences some 'seventy feet' North of the chapel. Brinson cut a narrow trench across the wall and ditch of the fort. He failed to find the edges of the ditch, but found later material forming layers in the hollow at the top of the silted ditch. These contained Saxon and medieval pottery (see EHER 32). The fort wall was located, and its construction examined. <9> The foot of the wall was in good condition and had a three bands of offset tiles on the outside. Both faces of the foundation, below ground level, exhibited a recess or chase, as if laid between wooden shuttering. No trace of a bank was recorded, but a marked roll in the ground behind the North and West walls and a mass of yellow clay behind the South wall prove its former existence. Excavation failed to define the precise outlines of the ditch. At about 50ft West of the wall, bones and chips of pottery and tile were found as far as 6ft down. This suggests a wash-out by marine transgression. Visible remains of a wide ditch were noted on the West and North sides. In 1960, it was noted that the bright clay of an upcast mound was visible at the NW angle and along the North side. <8> The work was partially published in the Victoria County History of Essex <8> but full publication of the section and finds has since been undertaken by Warwick Rodwell <10>. The finds included a single sherd of prehistoric pot (probably Early Iron Age), Romano-British, Anglo-Saxon, medieval and post-medieval pottery. Rodwell also reports a small group of Roman pottery collected from the ploughed field North of St Peter's Chapel in March 1967. Local information also reported a solid mass of Roman masonry uncovered during World War II, about a quarter of a mile East of the fort. It is suggested that this may have been part of Roman harbour works. A scatter of Romano-British pottery and tile has been observed in the fields to the West of the fort where a civilian settlement may have existed. <10> September 1972. Field survey. The wall of the fort is represented by a rise in the ground (now ploughed over) centred at TM 031 081. The only extant walling is on the South side at TM 0315 0810, some 23.0m long and 1.2m maximum height. The outer ditch is no longer visible although a tidal inlet on the South may represent the line of the ditch. 1:2500 survey revised. <11> Date unknown, prior to 1979. Fieldwalking. Fieldwalking of the fort site by the late H. Young of Chelmsford produced a small collection of late Roman pottery and tile. There was nothing necessarily earlier than around 259 AD. A single Saxon sherd was also found (see EHER 32). <12> 1985. Aerial photograph survey. The site of the Roman Saxon shore fort of Othona and the surviving Saxon nave of St Peter's chapel (EHER 32) were photographed. The line of the Roman fort wall showed as a slight linear earthwork immediately adjacent to the church's Southern wall but could only be traced for about 40m. There was no visible trace of the fort to the North of the Saxon chapel. <13> The aerial photographs <14> and <15> were probably taken as part of this project. 1999-2000. 'Othona' environs project. A survey of the fort and its environs was conducted to assess past and continuing damage, and the archaeological potential for future research. The main areas that need management intervention are: tree root and animal destruction of the South wall; visitor erosion to the South of the chapel; and plough damage to North of the fort. Areas identified for further archaeological work are: South of the fort near the flint scatter (EHER 18944) where extra-mural settlement may be found; and areas within the fort and to the West where geophysics shows evidence of archaeological activity. The recommendations are: ploughing be stopped, South wall be protected from biological action (removal of trees and rehousing of animals), illegal metal detecting should be curtailed, magnetometer survey should be extended and further evaluation should be conducted, especially in the salt marsh. <16> Landscape survey results. The Roman Saxon fort is located at the Eastern end of East End Road. The Northern part of the area is currently under cultivation and the Southern part is grassed over. The chapel (EHER 32) stands on a platform at 5.4m OD and a pronounced bank runs South of this, roughly to the corner of the inlet. A bank also runs along the same line to the North but is less pronounced - the line of these banks lays to the East of the line of the fort wall, possibly indicating that it was pushed over in this direction. There is also a dip visible along the projected line of the ditch associated with the fort. There are no traces of internal features within the fort. The only standing remains of the fort are located in a band of trees to the North of the inlet. These remains consist of fragments of the South wall of the fort and possibly the bastion at the SW corner. This wall stands to a visible height of 0.80in. There is 0.30m of rubble at the top of the wall, above a 0.20m thick course of tile. This overlays a stone constructed wall. There are possible traces of the excavations in the fort area. There is a narrow slight dip to the North of the chapel. This may be one of the narrow trenches shown on Rev. Milligan's drawing. <17> Geophysical survey results. The magnetic susceptibility survey identified several areas of potential archaeological activity beyond the limits of the fort including a discrete group of features characteristic of settlement and a large enclosure or boundary system. The magnetometer survey of the fort provided considerable information on its condition and layout. Its West wall was identified North of the chapel and some masonry remains are apparent. A large part of the North wall appears as two parallel ditches suggesting masonry no longer survives in that stretch. Evidence of internal structures was identified primarily in the Northern portion of the fort, sited around its perimeter. The most prominent of these is aligned with, and appears to extend along the full length of the West wall and is characteristic of a barrack block. Evidence for an East-West road or track was also located in the vicinity of the fort's central axis. Comprehensive details of the 1864-1865 trenching inside the fort, and the levelling that took place sometime between 1927-1954 are unknown but the geophysical survey suggests that damage was not severe, though continued ploughing might be causing further damage. <18> Fieldwalking survey results. A large concentration of Roman brick and tile and a small concentration of Roman pottery were recovered by an intensive survey inside the area of the Roman fort, although no focal points were identified. <19> Aerial photograph interpretation. The photographic record for the Northern part of the fort is relatively clear and shows what are likely to be the footings of a broad wall with two turrets. There are hints, on some photographs, that the 'wall' comprised two facing walls with a central rubble core. This can also be seen to the immediate South of the chapel, from which two parallel lines continue the Northern alignment for some 15m, beyond which they are obscured by a possible former fence line. There is the weak suggestion of part of the West wall at its corner on photographs taken in 1948. There is little definite evidence of features within the fort. The Northern part shows a patch of geological disturbance on the edge of which is mapped a small feature that may indicate a former well. The Southern, and less distinct, part of the fort is now in a small grass field and evidence is obscured by the marks of recent activity at the site which continues to be in use. <20> Archaeological test pit results. A mixed dump deposit comprising grey stony sand mixed with a very firm yellowish brown clay was identified in the section of the test pit and interpreted as relating to the tip head belonging to the reclamation attempt in 1864-1865, and derived from the excavations at the fort. <16> The remaining is a general description of the site gathered from several sources. A fort on the marsh next to the sea, South of the River Blackwater, at Bradwell-on-Sea. Only three sides of the fort remain, the fourth (seaward/Eastern) side has been undermined by the waves. The South wall is the best preserved and the Saxon Chapel of St Peter (EHER 31), built predominantly of Roman material, stands on the site of the main West gate. The North and South walls of the fort are not parallel, and so the fort was not rectangular. The surviving walls enclose five acres (2 hectares). The walls have been almost completely flattened, probably by cultivation, and as a result of the very acidic nature of the soil. The fragment of wall still visible on the South side is faced with tiles in triple courses and with septaria nodules (the only local building material). The foundations of the wall are composed of boulders and rough stones and the core is of rubble concrete. At the NW corner is a bastion, 4.5m in diameter, projecting 3.9m from the wall, and 38m to the South is the 'interval tower'. The site has been excavated many times since 1864 when it was rediscovered by Mr John Oxley Parker. In 1865, the wall was reported to be 'upwards of 14ft thick, and on the West side are foundations of two towers, one semi-circular and one of horseshoe form'. Similar towers are presumed to have existed all around the circuit, but have not been located. Excavation in 1947 did not recover evidence of any interior rampart, but 'a roll in the ground behind the North and West walls, and a mass of yellow clay behind the South wall indicate its existence'. The ditch was sectioned and contained some Saxon pottery. Most of the finds are in Colchester Museum. Some interior buildings were allegedly found in the 19th century, near the South wall, but no pattern was discerned. There also exist some fragments of a possible Roman harbour some distance out into the marshland, apparently visible as submerged masonry outlines. <8> <21> <22> <23> Note: there appears to be no evidence for the survival of these today, and they may instead have been attributed to the occupation of the Roman fort under 'local legend'. Roman building material found on the mudflats. <24> Roman pottery, including Samian and Nene Valley wares. <25> Fragments of tile. <26> The fort has a horseshoe bastion at the NW corner, and further South is a similar bastion; a third is thought to have existed at the SW corner. The fort resembles others of the series defending the 'Saxon shore'. 200 coins, from Gallienus to Arcadius have been recovered from the site, the most common are of the Constantinian period (AD 306 to 337), and Carausius (AD 286-293) is the most common emperor. The pottery recovered is mostly of same date, though a little seems to be 2nd century, as does one brooch. About 2m of the South wall remains under small trees and brambles. Most of the interior has been ploughed except around St Peter's chapel (EHER 32). Much Roman tile is in evidence; and tegulae has been recovered from the field edge. St Peter's chapel stands on the site of the West gate. The line of the outer ditch of the West wall is visible on aerial photographs. <27> <28> <29> The fort at Bradwell is a candidate for the identification of the Roman fort of Othona listed in the 'Notitia Dignitatum', though this is disputed and it is suggested that the fort at Walton Castle near Felixstowe, now eroded into the sea, could have been Othona. Nonetheless, Bradwell has been equated with Othona from the presence of the Saxon chapel of St Peter which Bede records as built by St Cedd at Ythancaestir. Ythancaestir has been equated with Bradwell since the 17th century, but this has also been a topic of dispute. The plan of the surviving part of the Roman fort was recorded in 1864 by the then owner, Oxley Parker. Although he trenched the interior, no buildings were found. In 1947 Major J.G.S. Brinson, for the Roman Essex Society, cut a trench through the West defences. Finds from the fort include brooches, including one 1st century example; bracelets; Roman/Saxon ironwork; a fragment of stamped flue tile; a gold finger ring with an onyx cameo (in the British Museum, see EHER 2006); 314 coins found at the site are thought to support a foundation date under Caurausius. <8>, see also <4> <30> - <40> (in text-references carried across from <8>). See also EHER 2008 and 2009 for other finds from the fort. The outline of the Roman fort, known as Othona, is visible as a parchmark indicating the location of the stone wall foundations. Saxon shore forts were constructed in the 3rd and 4th century on both sides of the channel to defend the coast from Saxon raiders. The foundations of a square bastion, or turret, are visible on an aerial photograph, with a second circular example visible at the corner. <41> <52> See aerial photographs <14> <15> <42> - <54> and photograph <55>. Site of Ithanchester (NR) and Othona ® ROMAN WALL ® (remains of) (NAT) <56> Remains of a Saxon Shore Fort, probably Othona, the Eastern half of which has been destroyed by the sea. The plan of the West half was recovered by excavation about 1864. (See plan in attached pamphlet). On the assumption that it was square, it would have enclosed some 6 acres, and resembled other forts of the series. Traces of a ditch have been recognised on the North and West. The main finds, in Colchester Museum date the construction to the time of Carausius (286-93). <57> <58> <27> <8> Rodwell suggests the possibility that the Saxon Shore fort was preceded by an early Roman naval base. The finds from the fort area begin in the 1st century AD and recent work on other shore forts has indicated that some, at least, originated as bases of the Classis Britannica. <59> Sherds of Romano-Saxon pottery from the Saxon Shore fort are described and illustrated. <60> Othona - the Roman fort at Bradwell-on-sea, Essex. <61> See also <62> - <70>. Note: <65> has not been checked as it cannot be accessed but it may instead contain information on St Peter's Chapel (EHER 32). Area = 2 Original HER entry merged with NRHE data transfer. NRHE summary description: A Roman Saxon Shore fort which was subsequently reused as an Anglo-Saxon monastery, situated on the Eastern tip of the Dengie Peninsular, between the River Blackwater to the North and the River Crouch to the South. The Eastern part of the site, including the East wall, has been undermined by the sea and washed away. It is thought that the fort was originally rectangular in plan. The line of the Western and Northern defences is partly visible at the ground surface as an earthwork bank and a short section of standing masonry, representing the South wall survives on this side. The plan of the surviving part of the fort was recovered in 1864 during part excavation. The foundations of two bastions were recognised, forming part of the defences in the NW part of the fort. At the NW corner the bastion was horseshoe shaped in plan whilst further South, along the West wall the second bastion was semicircular. These bastions are believed to have been solid. The wall was more than 14 feet thick. The defences included an inner rampart with an exterior masonry face surrounded by a berm and outer ditch, which has become silted up over the years. These defences enclose an area which now covers about 2ha, although it may originally have been nearer 3ha. The interior of the fort was also investigated at this time, although no masonry buildings were recognised. Over 200 coins were found dating from Gallienus AD 260-268 to Arcadius AD 383-408 and the pottery recovered was also mostly of the same date, indicating only later Roman occupation here. Note: The mapped polygon slightly exceeds the actual footprint of the fort. The Eastern extent is derived from the edge of marsh as the true extent of the fourth wall of the fort is unknown. The North, South and West extent is derived from the Scheduled Ancient Monument boundary, and the fort proper lies roughly 25m within this.