Roman Leicester was home to a wide range of industries. Archaeology has discovered evidence of the everyday production of metalworking and pottery as well as luxury roman style goods.
Coin making
In its very early years, Roman Leicester had a thriving coin making industry, linked to its Celtic tribal past. Archaeologists have discovered evidence of coin making workshops between Bath Lane and the River Soar.
All that remains of the workshops are beaten clay floors and post holes but amongst the finds were fragments of various sizes of clay ‘flan trays’. These were used as molds for coin blanks which were then stamped to form currency.
The workshops date to the period when Leicester was making the transition from tribal center to roman town when a local Celtic currency was in use. This industry probably died out when Leicester began to use the currency of the empire.
Metalworking
Other Iron Age industries continued after the city became fully romanized, often in exactly the same locations as before. Metalworking was one, an essential in any town, since it supplied everyday items such as knives and tools.
It seems that in Leicester, the Roman sites for iron working were in exactly the same place as their Iron Age counterparts. A series of yards and structures have been found along what was the Tripontium Road. These have been identified as Roman industrial metalworking sites. Excavations have proven that the alignments of the Roman yards followed the same alignments as their Iron Age predecessors.
Pottery
Pottery was another essential everyday commodity. As Leicester’s trade connections grew with the continent, the city imported more continental ware. By the second century AD, Gaulish, Mediterranean and Spanish pottery accounted for 30% of the city’s ceramics. But local Leicester produced Greyware was still predominant. Numerous kilns have been found around the city, showing this was a commodity commonly manufactured in the city.
Quarrying
Other industries began to grow up around Leicester to answer the specific needs of a roman town. A vital part of Leicester’s growth and Romanization was the building of monumental public buildings. This meant a ready source of stone was required. The countryside around the new town was a rich source of granite and sandstone which were perfect for the construction on public and domestic buildings. As a consequence, Roman stone quarries were established, to meet the needs of Leicester and other settlements.
Glassblowing
But Leicester‘s industries were not confined simply to the towns every day, practical needs. Small tile lined glass blowing furnaces have been found in the city dating between the second and third century AD. This suggests that at the peak of its prosperity, Roman Leicester was not only importing glassware from the continent, it was also making its own.
Sources
De Montfort University PACE and Hugh Aston Buildings:University of Leicester Archaeological Department
Blank, E, 1970, A Guide to Leicestershire Archaeology. Leicester Museums
Connor, A and Buckley, R, 1999. ‘Roman and Medieval Occupation in Causeway Lane, Leicester’ Leicester Archaeology Monographs no 5 1999: University of Leicester Archaeological Services
University of Leicester Archaeological Services: Merlin works
Natasha Sheldon - A writer since 2000, Natasha Sheldon holds a BA Hons in ancient history and archaeology and MA in ancient history and historiography.
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