In 1996 in sewer workings at the junction of Millway and Main Road Duston, contractors cut through the old Roman road at a depth of almost 2 metres on the south side and 1.5 metres on the north side. The site was investigated over two days by St Luke's Archaeology Group (SLA).
The width of the road was about seven metres and consisted of a double stone layer of shelly upper estuarine limestone or Blisworth limestone forming the base. There appeared to be an infill binding similar to lime mortar. Over the top appeared to be a layer of large pebbles and below rammed mixed stone.
The direction was 10-20 degrees south of east, and the road appears to have been running from Bannaventa (near Whilton Lodge, Norton) on the A5 Watling Street to the River Nene crossing now known as West Bridge, close to modern Northampton.
On the section of the road illustrated by the artist's impression in the picture above, the road reached the pavement on the north side of Main Road, and was wide enough to enter Millway on the south side. Today, Main Road Duston runs in the northern ditch system of the Roman road, while the Roman road itself disappears under the Squirrels public house and adjacent cottages, emerging into Berrywood Road at its junction with Southfield Road (approximately).
Information kindly supplied by David Blackburn of St Luke's Archaeology.
See AlsoRoman Town in Duston
Map of Romano-British Town
Duston in Roman Times
Roman Finds in Duston