Long Melford

Minor Settlement

The settlement lies to the immediate south of where the Chelmsford to Ixworth road crossed a tributary of the River Stour, in the angle formed by the confluence of the latter with the former.

Although iron-age pottery has been found at the site, the existence of a pre-Roman settlement is doubtful. The earliest date indicated by Samian and coarse-ware pottery fragments is Neronian.

Much of the pottery from the site is of the first and second centuries, with comparatively little later material, indicating perhaps a decline of the settlement after the second century.

Remains of a tessellated pavement found during pipe-trenching, may indicate the existence of a bath-house. Several cremations and inhumation burials have been found throughout the site.

References for Long Melford

  • Roadside Settlements in Lowland Roman Britain by Roger Finch Smith (BAR#157, 1987) pp.154/5.

Roman Roads near Long Melford

SSW (15) to Braintree (Essex) Probable road: SE (16) to Camulodunum (Colchester, Essex) SE (16) to Camvlodvnvm Trinovantvm ENE (17) to Combretovium (Baylham House, Suffolk) NNE (17) to Ixworth W (9) to Wixoe (Suffolk) NNE (17) to Sitomagvs

Sites near Long Melford