Durobrivae (Water Newton)

Durobrivae was a Roman town in Britain, and left to remain east of the present town Water Newton in the town of Peterborough are. Durobrivae lay on the Nene and the Ermine Street, one of the most important Roman roads of Britain, thus at the intersection of two major roads. The city was inhabited from the first to the fourth century AD, but was then completely abandoned. There are few remains from the time of the Anglo-Saxons. Since the city was never built again, the place and its conditioning by excavations, which began already in the 1820s, and relatively well- known by aerial photographs.

Durobrivae was walled, with the enclosed area comprised about 18 acres. The city wall had at least three goals. However, there were extensive suburbs, so that the city once attracted approximately 2 km in length. The walled area shows no regular map. There are many small residential buildings, but also two larger with a courtyard, where the function of this building is unknown. One of these buildings was next to a temple district. There were evidence of pottery and iron-working. Outside the city was also a military camp, which so far could be localized only on aerial photography and its dating is therefore unknown.

The city's name appears in the Antonine Itinerary, the geographer of Ravenna and brick temples that were found on site and thus confirm the identification.

The status of the city is uncertain; on the bricks it is also known as Vicus was therefore suspected that the town developed as a settlement next to the military camp. It is not certain whether the name Vicus was referring to the entire city or a part of it. The city was found in 1785, a milestone that marked a mile away. Generally, it is assumed that milestones always related to the capital of a civitas, Durobrivae in the third century was thus the main town of Civitas.

In the town of Water Newton treasure was found silver objects dating from the 4th century, which perhaps were part of a church inventory.