Wimpole Lodge

Minor Settlement

Knowledge of the settlement is derived principally from surface finds and to a lesser extent from small-scale excavations. The settlement extended along both sides of Ermine Street for some 200m north and 400m south of the point where the road crossed the river Cam. The northern extremity lies where the Roman road from Duroliponte (Cambridge) joined Ermine Street. In the south-east angle formed by this junction construction work exposed the stone foundations of what was probably a Roman building. Roman pottery, iron-work and two coins of Tetricus and Valens were recovered from the site. A scatter of Roman pottery is recorded in the field on the opposite side of the Cambridge road.

A small-scale excavation in 1973, near to the west side of Ermine Street, around thirty metres south of the river crossing, revealed two pits and a cobbled surface flanked by gullies. Pottery of the first and second centuries together with twelve coins ranging from Vespasian to Theodosius and a hipposandal were recovered from the site. A scatter of pot-sherds extended southwards of the excavation along Ermine Street for around 370 metres. On the east side of the road, surface finds and flint building rubble extended southwards of the river crossing for about 150 metres.

Fragments of tile, plaster and stones were found, together with scatters of Roman pottery, on the north bank of the river around 770 metres west of Ermine Street, indicates the presence of a substantial Roman building.

References for Wimpole Lodge

  • Roadside Settlements in Lowland Roman Britain by Roger Finch Smith (B.A.R. British Series #157, 1987) p.181 & fig.9.

Roman Roads near Wimpole Lodge

Possible road: SSW (11) to Baldock S (7) to Barkway Ermine Street: S (16) to Bravghing NE (10) to Dvroliponte (Cambridge, Cambridgeshire) Ermine Street: NNW (15) to Godmanchester Possible road: ESE (12) to Great Chesterford Possible track: W (10) to Sandy

Sites near Wimpole Lodge