Temple Complex, Collyweston

Temple Or Shrine

Possible Rectangular Shrine – Collyweston 1

This building lies to the north of the main group of shrines (#2-4) and is rectangular in plan with a dividing wall creating two rooms. It is possible that these rooms represent the porch and cella of a simple rectangular temple similar to those identified at Colchester, Nettleton, Springhead and Wycombe.

Octagonal Shrine – Collyweston 2

This temple lies between shrines 3 and 4, and a little to the north. Its fairly substantial walls, about 2¾ ft. thick, delineate an irregular octagon about 30 ft. across. The floor was of opus signinum – the same material used to waterproof Roman bath-houses – but an area paved with large slabs at the northern end probably served as the base for an altar or cult statue. The entrance to the temple very likely lay at the south end.

Hexagonal Shrine – Collyweston 3

This temple lay to the immediate west of temple#4, just south-west of temple#2. Its walls were 2 ft. thick and enclosed a slightly irregular hexagon measuring about 23 ft. across, with two of its sides aligned to face due north and south. The bulding was surrounded by a pavement about 6 ft. wide but no trace of any outer colonnade or wall was evident, which makes its identification as a Romano-British temple uncertain. The doorway lay in the centre of the south-eastern face and was 5 ft wide. Within the temple, the three northern walls were provided with recessed stone benches but the southern walls – aside from the doorway – were plain. A much-damaged inscription was recovered from the temple’s ruins (unavailable).

Circular Shrine – Collyweston 4

Lying just east of temple#3 and south-east of #2, this circular temple had very thin walls, only 1 ft. thick, enclosing an area 35 ft. in interior diameter. The floor was paved with slabs and a 3ft. wide walkway encircled the building which, like that found at temple#3, did not appear to have been enclosed by an outer wall. The entrance probably lay on the eastern side, where the area is heavily robbed-out. The insubstantial nature of the walls suggests that the temple was open to the sky.

References for Collyweston

  • Temples in Roman Britain by M.J.T. Lewis (Cambridge 1966).

Map References for Collyweston

NGRef: TF007005 OSMap: LR141

Roman Roads near Collyweston

None identified

Sites near Temple Complex, Collyweston