ABSTRACT
The Roman remains within the Lower Nene Valley, which in this paper is defined as being between Oundle (Northants) and Peterborough (Cambs), have been studied for the last 300 years. The Roman town of Durobrivae provided the focus for industrial and agricultural wealth and, after an early military phase, the area became densely settled with an industrial sprawl extending to over 180 hectares. Around this urban and suburban development, villas and farmsteads flourished. The Roman building trades exploited local quarry sites, especially that at Barnack (Northants) for several classes of building stone and for craft workshops producing architectural and sculptural pieces. Aspects of construction, building materials and the layout of buildings are considered within this paper along with types of Roman buildings from both urban and rural contexts.
