Blackwardine Roman settlement and discoveries
Construction of the Leominster and Bromyard Railway exposed pottery, querns, coins and building remains.
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What this record tells us
The report synthesised railway discoveries, antiquarian work, aerial evidence and 1980 salvage recording. It describes a prosperous village-type Roman settlement with pits, post-holes, a well, buildings and substantial possible defensive ditches; occupation probably began in the later 1st century AD and continued into the mid or late 4th century, possibly into the 5th century.
Additional research and clarification, 26 September 2026 Coins and remains were already reported by Jonathan Williams in 1808. Railway cutting in 1881 exposed pottery, querns, coins, graves and building remains; Bull’s report appeared in 1882. Some objects were sold, retained or reburied. The reported ovens were not all demonstrated pottery kilns.
In September 1921 a Woolhope Club digging party recovered pottery, three coins, roof tile, metalwork, building stone, animal bone and oyster shells. One tessera was recorded, not a complete mosaic. Jack’s paper was read in April 1922.
Attwell’s work in 1975–80 and rescue observations in January 1981 revealed pits, ditches, postholes, a well and probable foundations with Roman pottery and coins. Brown’s 1990 synthesis distinguishes these episodes. The wider collection includes a brooch, pewter, glass, shale and a horse figurine, but their provenances vary. Substantial Roman occupation is established; a military origin remains debated.
How this record is evidenced
Published inventories, excavation observations and Brown’s 1990 synthesis. Early loose objects retain uncertain provenance.
The investigation details are drawn from Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club; the original publication or report remains the authoritative source.
The clean title and short public summary have been prepared by Leominster Heritage and remain separate from the wording of the source record.
The open questions below identify the details that have not yet been securely established.
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Blackwardine Roman settlement and discoveries
Fieldwork report · Reported by 1808; railway 1881; digging 1921; excavation 1975–80; rescue 1981 · Approximate position
Construction of the Leominster and Bromyard Railway exposed pottery, querns, coins and building remains.
As printed and normalised
Source and further reading
Jonathan Williams, The Leominster Guide, 1808. Supplied digitised edition; printed pp. 8–10, 193, 264–266, 309–310, 335 and 351–352 are especially relevant.
Duncan L. Brown, The Romano-British Settlement at Blackwardine, Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists’ Field Club 46, part 3, 1990, pp. 390–406. Relevant pages also appear in the supplied Woolhope compilation.
Entry-specific references: S09 p. 335; S13 pp. 390–406
G. H. Jack, Blackwardine, Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists’ Field Club volume for 1921–1923, pp. 54–57; paper read 27 April 1922 about digging in September 1921.
Duncan L. Brown, The Romano-British Settlement at Blackwardine, Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists’ Field Club 46, part 3, 1990, pp. 390–406. Relevant pages also appear in the supplied Woolhope compilation.
Herefordshire Through Time, Blackwardine, HER 737; county summary based on Brown 1990. Some quantities and dates require checking against the original report.
Entry-specific references: S14 pp. 54–57; S13; S15
G. H. Jack, Blackwardine, Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists’ Field Club volume for 1921–1923, pp. 54–57; paper read 27 April 1922 about digging in September 1921.
Entry-specific references: S14 pp. 54–57
Duncan L. Brown, The Romano-British Settlement at Blackwardine, Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists’ Field Club 46, part 3, 1990, pp. 390–406. Relevant pages also appear in the supplied Woolhope compilation.
Herefordshire Through Time, Blackwardine, HER 737; county summary based on Brown 1990. Some quantities and dates require checking against the original report.
Entry-specific references: S13 pp. 390–406; S15
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