Aldborough – Isurium Brigantum

Aldborough and the Great North Road

Aldborough today is a small village 15 miles north-west of York, close to Boroughbridge where the Great North Road crosses the River Ure.

In the Roman period it was far more important. York was the military stronghold, vital to maintain order amongst the sometimes unappreciative northerners, but Aldborough (or Isurium Brigantum) was the civilian centre (civitas) for the colonial administration of the Brigantes tribes which occupied much of northern England, through to the Scottish border.

It appears that Isurium was established soon after AD 79 when Julius Agricola subjugated the Brigantes. It was preferred over the previous Brigantes tribal centre 30 miles north at Stanwick, perhaps because of its closer proximity to the army in York.

Recent archaeological analysis is starting to clarify our still hazy understanding of how it relates to the Iron Age “oppidum” at Stanwick. This is made all the more fascinating by the historical records of the dispute between Queen Catamunda (the initial client ruler) and her jilted husband, Venutius.

The juxtaposition of Aldborough to York, Catterick, and Hadrian’s Wall helps us understand the use and importance of Dere Street, a precursor to the Great North Road.

About Aldborough – Isurium Brigantum

The Rise

Founded in the late first century, Isurium Brigantum developed into a thriving Roman town during the second and third. Its name derives from the Latin name of the River Ure – the Iseur. It may also reflect the existence of an earlier settlement at the same location.

The first Roman presence in the area was a fort at Roecliffe near Boroughbridge close to the first Dere Street crossing of the Ure. In fact, for a time this may well have marked the northern boundary of Roman occupation. The fort was in use between about AD 70 and AD 80.

By around AD 120 a carefully planned town was developing at Isurium. It had a regular street grid with terracing of the rising slope forming the south of the settlement. It had a large forum and basilica at its centre. A new bridge across the river Ure created a route through the town to the north and Hadrian’s Wall.

There were large private homes with wall plaster, decorative mosaic floors and hypocausts. There were two temples, a bath house and a sewerage system.

A system of banks and ditches surrounded the early town; stone walls and 4 gates signified the towns importance in the 3rd century, and stronger defensive bastions were added in the mid-4th century. The settlement sprawled well beyond its walls, including an amphitheatre to the south.

Growth of the Roman walled town. Ferraby and Millett suggest it was the east-west road which was the more important axis in the first century with Aldborough being the highest navigable point on the Ure providing access to the mineral resources of the Pennine dales. Image Credit – Ferraby and Millett

The Fall

Aldborough remained significant to the end of the Roman period though in the late 4th century there are signs of reducing activity outside the walls and re-use of civic buildings. This includes the forum where there is evidence of iron working.

Once colonial responsibilities had gone and the importance of market towns diminished so Isurium fell from favour. It was York (which later in the Roman period had gained status as capital of the province of Britannia Inferior, and which provided better connections to the coast) that was sustained into the early medieval period – and became the regional centre for Christian and Viking activity.

There is however some evidence for settlement continuity at Aldborough. Domesday records “Burgh” as a significant centre with large landholdings (the “Ald” was added by the mid-12th century after the Norman river crossing was established to the west). An early church was built in the courtyard of the Roman forum.

During the late Medieval period Aldborough was a “borough by prescription” and from 1558 returned two Members of Parliament. Controlled by successive Dukes of Newcastle, development of the village was restricted in order that this valuable parliamentary privilege could be exploited. In 1754 the then Duke, who had just become Prime Minister, selected William Pitt (the Elder) to sit as one of its MPs.

The current day layout of the village still respects the Roman street plan.

Aldborough - Isurium Brigantum. Continuity of street layout

Overlay of modern streets (black) on the Roman streets (red) with St Andrew’s church located within the Roman forum. Image Credit – Ferraby and Millett

The Archaeology

The ancient history of Aldborough has long been apparent to both the local population and curious visitors. As early as the 16th century, the antiquarian John Leland noted:

Aldeburge is about a quarter of a mile from Boroughbridge. This was in the Romaines tyme a great cite on Watheling-stret, caullid Isuria Brigantum : and was waullid, wherof I saw vestigia quadamy sedtenuia. It stoode by south west on Ure ryver.
There be now large feeldes, fruteful of com, in the very places wher the bowsing of the town was; and in these feeldes yereley be founde in ploughing many coynes of sylver and brasse of the Romaine stampe.
There hath bene found also sepulchres, aqua ductus and tesseilata pavimenta : also spurres sytt with stones and many othar straunge things.

In the 1720s Daniel Defoe was drawn to the site:

Borough Brigg, or Bridge, seems to be the modern town risen up out of Aldborough, the very names importing as much, (viz.) that Burrough at the Bridge, and the Old Borough that was before; and this construction I pretend to justify from all the antiquaries of our age, or the last, who place on the side of Aldborough or Old Borough, an antient city and Roman colony, call’d Isurium Brigantum ; the arguments brought to prove the city stood here, where yet at present nothing of a city is to be seen, no not so much as the ruines, especially not above ground, are out of my way for the present; only the digging up coins, urns, vaults, pavements, and the like, may be mentioned, because some of them are very eminent and remarkable ones, of which an account is to be seen at large in Mr. Cambden, and his continuator, to whom I refer.

Excavations in the mid-19th century revealed gold artefacts along with beautiful mosaic floors. A small museum was erected by the Lawson family which became a tourist attraction.

Aldborough - Isurium Brigantum. View from tower. Ecroyd-Smith

View of Aldborough from the ‘prospect tower’. Frontispiece from Ecroyd Smith’s publication of 1852, including a copy of the volume in the foreground.

Finds from Aldborough - Isurium Brigantum

Examples of Roman artefacts from Aldborough. Image Credit – English Heritage

Helicon Mosaic at Aldborough - Isurium Brigantum

The Helicon Mosaic recorded before lifting. There have been 22 mosaics found at Aldborough, largely from the south-western quarter of the site: most feature geometric designs though this example includes an unusual Greek inscription in blue glass tesserae. Image Credit – Andrew Lawson-Tancred

Our understanding of Roman Aldborough (Isurium Brigantum) did not progress a great deal in the 20th century but a more recent project reviewing the existing evidence and undertaking extensive magnetometry and ground penetrating radar surveys has helped develop a more integrated interpretation.

Aldborough - Isurium - Geophysical Surveys

The 120 hectare scope of the geophysical surveys went well beyond the walled town. Image Credit – Ferraby and Millett. (An interactive version of this plan is available online.)

Dere Street passed through the north and the east gates of Aldborough. The importance of Dere Street to the town’s prosperity is evident from the recent surveys which illustrate the strips of development alongside these roads. Along the southeast route to York there were potteries and also organised cemeteries.

Based on the survey work, targeted excavations were undertaken. Periodic digs continue and amongst more interesting discoveries was a large warehouse, and workshops which included a smithy.