Monument record CDD 016 - Coddenham Baylham Roman Site

Forts.
Within large settlement area CDD 003 (S1).
Cropmarks of: a. Triple ditched rhomboid enclosure, similar in shape to PKM 005 (interior width circa 220m).
b. Inner multi-ditched enclosure, two corners visible, ? rectangular, lying in SW corner of larger fort. Bisected by N-S road line (Caister road). Pits etc. visible within the area.
C19 finds including mirror case with cremation and wall probably came from this area of the site - see CDD 003 CRN 04313 for details.
Air photographs (OS) showed large double ditched fort by 1957 (R2). Identification of two multiple ditched forts by R Farrands in 1975-1976 (see S3 for 1961 Farrands AP) led to extension of scheduled area to include these completely (S1).
Finds from the adjacent areas (CDD 003, 009, 017) indicate probable pre-Roman and substantial early Roman activity.

Cropmarks of two multi-ditched Roman forts. Cropmarks of the north and east sides of the larger of the two forts are clearly visible, although the south and west side of the fort has been built over or is covered by trees. The sections of the enclosure that are visible show that it was triple ditched and 233m wide (internal), with an entrance to the north where the road came through (CDD 003). Of the three ditches it appears that the outer one was the most substantial. Other gaps within the ditches have been caused by quarrying (presumably later) and possibly by alternation to the fort layout as a second road appears to cross the ditches.

The second smaller fort is located in the south-west corner of the larger fort, but is not visible in its entirety, but is upto 117m in width and 159m in length. The cropmark evidence for the south boundary of the fort shows that it had up to four ditches, though these are only visible in the south-west corner. The road passes directly through the fort and appears to have a short 'arm' centred on TM11425259 within the fort.

While there is little cropmark evidence for extensive activity within the forts, a series of ditches, areas of extraction and pits are visible which is probably associated with Roman activity. Helen Saunders (Essex County Council), February 2014. (S4-S6)