Sedgefield Roman Settlement

Minor Settlement

In 2005 an important and unusual Roman settlement was found in fields on the western side of Sedgefield alongside the Roman road and stretching out towards Hardwick Park. The site was investigated by the BBC’s Time Team and seems to have been a Romano-British settlement inhabited by Romanised Celts who were engaged in trading and industrial activities. It consisted of rows of parallel crofts and workshops on either side of a north–south trackway called Cade’s Road, creating a ladder-like layout, which could be securely dated by the many finds of Roman coins. On the east side of the road at Sedgefield, there was found evidence of large enclosures, plus pottery kilns and metalworking.

It’s very unusual to find a major settlement of this kind without an associated Roman fort or high status site like a villa in its vicinity.

The heyday of Roman Sedgefield was around 120AD-250AD with there is evidence for a whole complex of farmsteads which may be connected to a massive increase in agricultural production, to do with Hadrian’s Wall. Sedgefield may have been a market centre for gathering agricultural produce before it is carted off northwards.

Just north of Sedgefield the old Roman road is joined by another centuries old route. This is Salter’s Lane, an old salt trading road. It passes through neighbouring Fishburn and can be traced as far north as the outskirts of Sunderland.

 

Sites near Sedgefield Roman Settlement
  • Brough-on-Humber (Petuaria) Roman Fort and Civitas
    British Civita, Flavian Auxiliary Fort (AD 69–96) and Theatres
  • Hadrian's Wall - Fort - Newcastle (Pons Aelius)
    Hadrian's Wall Fort and Roman Bridges
  • York (Eburacum) Roman Settlement
    Colonia, Legionary Fort, Marching or Temporary Camp and Triumphal Arches
  • Chester-le-Street (Concangis) Roman Fort
    Flavian Auxiliary Fort (AD 69–96)
  • South Shield (Arbeia) Roman Fort
    Supply Depot
  • Sedgefield Roman Settlement
    Minor Settlement