Park Street, Cambridge

Excavations at Park Street in central Cambridge revealed a previously unknown Roman road and rich evidence of Roman occupation, including complete pottery vessels and signs of domestic and industrial activity. Despite challenging conditions including flooding and unexpected finds, Headland Archaeology successfully delivered the project in close collaboration with the contractor and developer. The results offer important new insights into the development of Roman Cambridge and its eastern hinterland, providing further information of the probable location of the medieval ‘King’s Ditch’.

Urban archaeological sites are often complex due to deep stratigraphy, restricted working space, and dense overlying development. Park Street in central Cambridge was no exception; further complicated by the dynamics between the archaeological contractor and the development stakeholders, who were working to tight programmes and constrained budgets. From November 2021 to February 2023, Headland Archaeology worked closely with the contractor, Gilbert-Ash, and the developer, Marick Management Ltd, to deliver the programme of works.

The aim of the mitigation strategy was to determine whether the King’s Ditch, a defensive earthwork constructed in 1267 by King Henry III during his conflict with the Barons, was located within the development area. While previous excavations around Cambridge had suggested that the ditch ran parallel with Park Street, its precise line had not been definitively recorded.

The main works were divided into three areas: Area 1 (western end), Area 2 (centre of the site), and Area 3 (eastern end). Excavation began in Area 1, which was expected to be the area of lowest archaeological risk having previously been occupied by large post-medieval buildings and a modern car park. However this assumption proved incorrect, as multiple phases of Roman activity were soon identified. These included numerous rubbish and latrine pits, along with a previously unrecorded section of Roman road.

The road extended east–west through the middle of Area 1 and across Area 2, running for approximately 15.5m. It was flanked by two large ditches and measured c. 6.8m in width. Composed of three layers of compacted gravel interleaved with road debris, maintenance material and make-up deposits, the road showed signs of long-term use and repair. Pottery from adjacent ditches dated the road’s use from the 3rd to the 5th centuries AD.

In Area 2 modern intrusions had caused heavy truncation and there was a clear change to the landscape: the eastern part of Area 2 and all of Area 3 were dominated by wetland deposits. Roman activity continued in these areas, with evidence of a possible oven, a timber-lined well, an attenuation pond and a large ditch. The attenuation pond had cut into the ditch, which in turn had truncated a palaeochannel aligned with the supposed location of the King’s Ditch. As excavations progressed, it became apparent that the King’s Ditch lay either at the extreme edge of the site or just beyond it. To investigate this further, a section through the palaeochannel and attenuation pond was excavated, showing that although the channel had been repeatedly cut by other features, there was no conclusive evidence for the King’s Ditch.

Despite this, the excavations at Park Street yielded valuable insights into the eastern expansion and development of Roman Cambridge. The newly discovered Roman road contributed significantly to our understanding of this previously poorly understood area.

The project was not without its challenges, including flooding, programme and logistical challenges, and the frequent appearance of unexpected archaeological features. Central to the project’s success was the close working relationship with Gilbert-Ash and Marick Management Ltd, both on site and at project management level. This partnership allowed Headland to consistently adapt to the evolving demands of the site, the archaeology, and the client.