Lactodurum facts for kids
Lactodurum was an important town in Roman Britain, a part of the Roman Empire. Today, this ancient place is known as Towcester, a town in Northamptonshire, England.
Towcester is thought to be the oldest town in Northamptonshire. It might even be one of the oldest places in Britain where people have lived without stopping! This is because archaeologists have found signs of human life there from the Mesolithic era (the Middle Stone Age) and the British Iron Age.
Watling Street: An Ancient Roman Road
During Roman times, a famous road called Watling Street was built. This road, which is now the A5, went right through the area where Towcester is today. The Romans built a fort there, probably to protect the road. This fort was called Lactodurum.
Some local people believe that the first settlement was actually a bit south of the current town. It was at a crossroads where Watling Street met an old path used for moving cattle. This might have been a small trading post before the Romans arrived.
The fort at Lactodurum soon became a busy civilian settlement. This means it was a town where ordinary people lived, not just soldiers. In the late 1st century, the wooden buildings were replaced with stronger stone ones. These included a mansio, which was like a guesthouse for travelers and officials. By the mid-2nd century, many shops lined the roadsides. Homes built in the 3rd and 4th centuries even had fancy floors made of small colored tiles, called tessellated pavements. Their walls were decorated with painted plaster.
Protecting the Town: Lactodurum's Wall
Lactodurum was protected by a strong wall. This wall had stone and brick towers to make it even stronger. A ditch also ran around the wall, and part of it later became a water channel called the Mill Leat.
Today, St Lawrence's Church in Towcester is believed to stand where a large Roman public building once was. This might have been a Roman temple or a bath house. You can still see small pieces of Roman pavement near the church's boiler room.
Outside the main walled town, there were suburbs. These areas had buildings made of wood and cob (a mix of clay, sand, and straw). These were likely small farms. However, there was also a lot of industry happening! People were working with metal, making pottery, and crafting items from lead, pewter, and bronze.
