Archaeological Investigations at the new Unilever Cambridge Centre, Union Road, Cambridge

Abstract

Trenching evaluation on the site of the new Unilever Cambridge Centre, Union Road, revealed evidence of low level activity on the site from at least the Roman period. Two Roman features were found with pottery dating from the late 1s t to the late 3r d centuries. These were interpreted as being part of the extensive rural hinterland around the main Roman town to the north. Subsequently the area became part of the Cambridge East Fields, and there is evidence of an extended period of agricultural use through the medieval period (with a slight indication of remnant ridge and furrow) followed by more intensive utilisation in the post-medieval period. Following Inclosure in 1807 this part of Cambridge was rapidly built up. The later features found in the trenches matched closely with the building layout on the 1888 OS map, allowing positive identification of Nos. 1-4, Union Road, all of which were demolished by the mid 1970s.