Details

The monument includes the surviving extent of buried remains of a Roman
marching camp at Crutch Lane, visible on aerial photographs as a series of
cropmarks (areas of variable plant growth over buried features) illustrating
two sides of the Roman camp. The monument is located approximately 250m north
east of the Roman fort at Dodderhill which is the subject of a separate
scheduling. Excavation in advance of development to the south of the A38
discovered evidence for a double ditched enclosure. The two ditches had a
profile commonly found in Roman military camps and lay parallel to each
other; they appeared to have undergone phases of in-filling and re-cutting.
Part of the camp was destroyed during the construction of the A38 Droitwich
Bypass and an adjacent housing estate and is not included in the scheduling.
Although small, the camp is believed to have housed a contingent of Roman
soldiers on a temporary or seasonal basis.

MAP EXTRACT
The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

Roman camps are rectangular or sub-rectangular enclosures which were
constructed and used by Roman soldiers either when out on campaign or as
practice camps; most campaign camps were only temporary overnight bases and
few were used for longer periods. They were bounded by a single earthen
rampart and outer ditch and in plan are always straight-sided with rounded
corners. Normally they have between one and four entrances, although as many
as eleven have been recorded. Such entrances were usually centrally placed in
the sides of the camp and were often protected by additional defensive
outworks. Roman camps are found throughout much of England, although most
known examples lie in the midlands and north. Around 140 examples have been
identified and, as one of the various types of defensive enclosure built by
the Roman Army, particularly in hostile upland and frontier areas, they
provide an important insight into Roman military strategy and organisation.
All well-preserved examples are identified as being of national importance.

The Roman marching camp 430m east of Dodderhill Court Farm survives well
despite development on its south west. It lies adjacent to a Roman road which
led north from the town of Salinae (Droitwich) and a Roman fort, and will
provide information about the Roman exploitation of the nearby salt industry
including communication and trade networks. The camp will also provide
evidence for the earliest period of Roman military occupation of the area,
possibly being used prior to construction of the nearby fort. Artefactual
evidence will help to date the construction of the camp and periods of
occupation as well as provide evidence for its principal use. Environmental
evidence surviving in the in-filling and re-cutting of the ditches can be
expected to preserve material which will help illuminate the natural
environment surrounding the camp.

Source: Historic England