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Who Should Live in Castor

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25/01/1913

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At the monthly meeting of the Peterborough Rural District Council on this Saturday there was a deep debate recorded by the Peterborough Citizen the following Tuesday under the headline 'Castor invasion by Peterborough house hunters - What Castor Expects.' Peterborough was expanding and new houses were desperately needed, leading to what we now call 'Not in my backyard' syndrome rearing its head. Castor parish council did not think it was desirable to erect the proposed houses and suggested a different type of house, each having a rood of land and being more suitable for widows and retired men. Cllr Goodyer argued that the new houses should be for working men, as there were already more cottages for the elderly than workers in Castor. Cllr Kemp commented that there were already plenty of cottages for widows and old men. It was workmen's cottages that were needed now. Cllr Lee responded that he did not think that, as agricultural people, they would not be able to pay the rent. The clerk, having heard these comments, concluded that it would be impossible for people to pay 4s 6d and rates. The meeting moved on with no decision recorded.

Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.

Roman

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Cunoarus' Stamped Mortarium

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175-199

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The Roman town of Durobrivae sat on the south bank of the river Nene near Water Newton and Castor. On the northern banks of the river was a densely-packed industrial area which centred on pottery and iron production.

The area produced grey wares, colour-coated wares and kitchen wares which included mortaria. The mortaria were much thicker pieces of pottery designed for pounding and grinding. They were used to grind food, but also paints, makeup and other items. Pestles were usually made from wood and therefore do not survive with the mortaria.

One piece of Nene Valley mortarium was found with the stamp of its maker on the rim or flange. Stamped mortaria are very common and found in large numbers from locations including St Albans (Verulamium) and Vindolanda. What makes the stamped mortarium from Durobrivae important is that it refers to Durobrivae. The stamp reads 'Cunoarus Vico Duro' in Latin, which translates to 'Conoarus of the vicus of Durobrivae'. A vicus was a name used for a large village or small town in Roman Britain.

No date has been given to the mortarium, but the height of the pottery making industry at Durobraivae was in the late 2nd century (175-199AD). A stamped mortarium can often be dated but Cunoarus does not have any other surviving stamped pieces that we know of.

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Links

  • An example of a stamped mortaria at the British Museum
Roman

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