Second site reveals Romans’ heritage

Oct 2 2008 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

ANOTHER major archaeological dig may be staged in Newcastle to reveal more of the city’s Roman past.

In August, excavations behind Newcastle Central Station by a Durham University team unearthed two one-tonne sandstone Roman coffins, a main road to the fort of Pons Aelius, now under the Castle Keep, and remains of the civilian settlement near the 600-garrison military base.

Hadrian’s Wall ran along what is now Westgate Road and much of the vicus, or civilian settlement, is under the Central Station. Now trial trenching has shown that more remains survive in excellent condition under a site earmarked for a hotel.

Tomorrow, city councillors will consider a bid for the 95-bedroom, six-storey hotel by Sleeperz Ltd and Network Rail on the site of the former NER parcels depot which fronts on to Westgate Road, and several of the arches within the listed railway viaduct between the Central Station and the High Level Bridge.

The site is on the opposite side of the station to the dig which revealed so much of the city’s Roman beginnings.

The hotel bid land lies just to the south of Hadrian’s Wall, which was found under the Cooper’s Auction Mart building on the other side of Westgate Road.

It lies within what is believed to be the area of the Roman civilian settlement and possibly the cemetery which surrounded Pons Aelius Roman Fort.

It may also lie within the former extent of an Anglo Saxon cemetery which has been partially excavated at Castle Garth, next to the Keep.

The site is also within the medieval town walls, relatively close to the medieval Carmelite Friary and the Hospital of St Mary the Virgin.

Before 1736, a row of houses called Dawson’s Court and a pub were built on the site.

Archaeological trenches which were dug inside the depot building have shown that remains relating to the Roman vicus, the medieval and later town survive.

A larger open area archaeological excavation would be required to fully record the remains which would be destroyed by the piled foundations of the proposed new building. The excavation can only be undertaken after the demolition of the parcels depot, which dates from 1906.

The timber building has been vacant for a number of years and is in a derelict state.

The building was nominated to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport for listing in 2007, but this was rejected. English Heritage say that the proposed new building, because of its architecture and new use, would have a positive impact on the conservation area in which it would be located and the listed arches, and that this justifies the loss of the existing building.

Planners are recommending backing the hotel scheme.