Templeborough

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 53.4187
longitude= -1.388
official_name= Templeborough
population = 17,443
map_type= South Yorkshire
metropolitan_borough= Rotherham
metropolitan_county = South Yorkshire
region= Yorkshire and the Humber
constituency_westminster= Rotherham
post_town= ROTHERHAM
postcode_district = S60
postcode_area= S
dial_code= 01709
os_grid_reference= SK410916

Templeborough (gbmapping|SK410916) is a suburb of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England. The area takes its name from the remains of the Roman fort found there which were mistakenly believed to be that of a Roman Temple.

Roman fort

A Roman fort was first built on the site in earth and wood in the first century AD (most likely in the period 43 to 68 [cite journal |last=Breeze |first=David J. |coauthors=Dobson, Brian |year=1985 |title=Roman Military Deployment in North England |journal=Britannia |volume=16 |pages=pp. 1–19 |url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/526389 |accessdate=2008-09-04 ] [cite book |title=A Companion to Roman Britain |chapter=The Claudian Conquest and its Consequences |last=Todd |first=Malcolm |authorlink=Malcolm Todd |year=2004 |editor=Malcolm Todd |publisher=Blackwell Publishing |location=Oxford |isbn=1405156813 |pages=p. 57 ] ), and was later rebuilt in stone.cite web |title=Monument no. 316617 |url=http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=316617 |publisher=Pastscape.org.uk Retrieved on 3 September 2008.] It is thought to have been occupied until the Roman withdrawal from England c410 but its original name has never been ascertained. The Roman road called Icknield Street (sometimes Ryknild or Riknild Street) crossed the River Don at a ford close to the fort. There was also a road that ran from the fort to Brough-on-Noe in Derbyshire. The double bank that surrounded the fort was still visible in 1831 although it is believed that stone blocks from the site were regularly carried off and re-used in nearby buildings.

Archaeological excavations of part of the fort and bath house were carried out in 1877 by the Rotherham Literary and Scientific Society headed by local historians, J D Leader and John Guest. They found evidence that the fort had been burned to the ground and rebuilt twice. Coins discovered during this excavation ranged in date from the time of the emperors Augustus to Constantine I.

In 1917, the Roman archaeologist Sir Thomas May was invited to re-excavate the fort by Rotherham Borough Council. Immediately afterwards, the remains of the fort were permanently covered by an extension to Steel, Peach and Tozer's steelworks to make artillery shells for use in World War I.

A tile stamped with the stamp of Cohors IV Gallorum found on the site dates to either the time of Domitian (81–96) or Trajan (98–117). The Fourth Cohort of Gauls are known to have occupied the fort, as evidenced by the clay tiles and carved Roman tombstones discovered on the site. The remains include one of the earliest known memorials to a named British female.

Tombstone of a soldier inscribed DIS M CINTVSMVS M COH IIII GALLORVM POS MELISVS"To the spirits of the departed and Cintusmus, a soldier of the Fourth Cohort of Gauls, [this memorial was] placed by Melisus."(RIB 619; tombstone)

Tombstone of a veteran inscribed DIS MANIBVS CROTO VINDICIS EMERITO COH IIII GALLORVM ANNORVM XXXX MONIMENTVM FECIT FLAVIA PEREGRINA CONIVNX PIENTISSIMA MARITO PIENTISSIMO TITVLVM POSVIT"To the spirits of the departed and Crotus Vindex, veteran of the Fourth Cohort of Gauls, forty years old, this monument was made and its inscription set down by Flavia Peregrina a most faithful wife for a most faithful husband."(RIB 620; tombstone)

Tombstone of a Dobunniwoman inscribed DIS M VERECVD RVFI LIA CIVES DOBVNNA ANNOR XXXV EXCINGVS CONIVX CONIVGI KARISSIMAE POSIT DE SVO"To the spirits of the departed and to Verecunda Rufilia, a citizen of the Dobunni,¹ thirty-five years old, her husband Excingus placed this for his dearest wife."(RIB 621; tombstone)

Finds from both excavations are now housed in Clifton Park Museum in Rotherham. The original stone columns from the Roman granary at Templeborough Fort were re-erected in Clifton Park in 1922.

Templeborough steelworks

Steel, Peach and Tozer, known locally as "Steelos" was one of the largest manufacturers in the Rotherham area. The Templeborough steelworks was reputed to be a mile long and at its height in the mid-20th century, employed 10,000 people. After nationalisation in 1967 it became part of the British Steel Corporation. The steelworks closed in 1993 and has since been partly converted into a museum — the £46 million Magna Centre.

ee also

* Roman Ridge
* Wincobank (hill fort)

References

* [http://www.roman-britain.org/places/templeborough.htm Plan of the fort at Templeborough]
*