Roman BritainUxacona
Roman Settlement · Civilian

Uxacona

Roman Britain
Pleiades ID: 79727
Site type
Settlement
Category
Civilian
Latitude
52.6951
Longitude
-2.4070
Overview

History & context

Uxacona was a small Romano-British roadside settlement on Watling Street in modern Shropshire, situated between Viroconium (Wroxeter) and Pennocrucium, near the modern village of Red Hill close to Oakengates. It is named in the Antonine Itinerary and was active from the mid-first century through into the later Roman period, originating as a military-related establishment (likely a small fort or fortlet during the conquest period) before evolving into a civilian roadside settlement with ditched enclosures.

Source: Pleiades — A Community-Built Gazetteer and Graph of Ancient Places. View the Pleiades record →

Significance

Historical significance

Its primary role was as a mansio or way-station on Watling Street, one of the principal arteries of Roman Britain linking the legionary fortress at Wroxeter to London, serving travellers, officials, and the cursus publicus. It is one of a chain of such small nodal sites along this road, comparable to nearby Pennocrucium and Mediolanum.

Archaeology

Archaeological record

Aerial photography and geophysical survey have revealed a sequence of ditched enclosures of first-century date, indicating early military or proto-urban activity, with the settlement spreading along the line of Watling Street. Excavation has been limited, but finds of pottery, coins, and structural traces confirm occupation into the later Roman period; no substantial masonry buildings have been securely identified.

About this site

Questions & answers

What is Uxacona?

Uxacona was a small Romano-British roadside settlement on Watling Street in modern Shropshire, situated between Viroconium (Wroxeter) and Pennocrucium, near the modern village of Red Hill close to Oakengates. It is recorded in the Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places as a settlement site from the Roman period in Britain.

What type of Roman site is Uxacona?

Uxacona is classified as a Roman settlement — a civilian site in the Pleiades ancient world gazetteer. Roman Britain's archaeology encompasses thousands of sites ranging from legionary fortresses and marching camps to villas, temples and towns.

What other Roman sites are near Uxacona?

Several Roman sites lie within a short distance, including Parts of a Roman camp and signal station 410m ESE of Watling Street Grange (0.2 km), Roman fort 300m east of Drayton Lodge Farm (3.7 km), Roman camps SW of Stoneyford Cottages (5.3 km). Aubrey Research maps over 2,200 Roman sites across Britain, drawn from the Pleiades ancient world gazetteer.

How can I research the history of the area around Uxacona?

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