15137/2GAZETTE & HERALD: Roman remains discovered in a Chippenham archaeological dig have given historians a new perspective on the town's distant history.

The year-long excavation of the back garden of a house in the Causeway has brought a wealth of finds to light from Roman times through the medieval era, as well the 17th and 18th centuries.

Chippenham Heritage Centre manager Mike Stone oversaw the dig and was thrilled by the results.

"This helps us fill in the missing chapters of Chippenham's history," he said.

"This site shows us the potential of the archaeology in people's back gardens."

The dig took place in the garden of 2 The Causeway, which backs on to the site of the old canal.

Once a shop, the building has been taken over by Lifespace Solutions Ltd, for redevelopment as flats.

But owner David Purton was keen to preserve the history of the building and allowed Mr Stone and his team to make a long and careful excavation in the garden.

The dig was carried out by volunteers and students, mostly on Saturdays, and resulted in a trench about two metres wide, eight metres long and 1.8 metres deep.

This patch of earth has yielded around 20 boxes of finds as each layer of the dig took the investigators deeper and deeper into the town's past with some fascinating results.

Although Chippenham is well documented as a Saxon town, with its association with King Alfred the Great, there has to date been little material evidence of this era.

But archaeologists found a Saxon upright loom weight dating back to the eighth and tenth centuries.

The weight is made of clay and about a third of it remains. Originally doughnut shaped the weight was used at the end of cords on a loom.

Two years ago two fragments of Saxon pottery were uncovered in the garden behind the Cellar Gallery in the Causeway and with each new Saxon find Mr Stone believes the blank spaces in our knowledge of Saxon Chippenham are filled in a little more.

Perhaps even more significant, the discovery of a host of Roman roof tiles indicates Chippenham was the site for a substantial Roman building perhaps a farm or hamlet.

The sandstone tiles, which probably originate in Bath, might not look very exciting but they prove the town has a Roman history too dating back to the third and fourth centuries.

"Digging down through the different levels we also found lots of rubbish pits, gullies and post holes," said Mr Stone.

"We also uncovered lots of pottery and clay pipes from the 17th and 18th centuries.

"Some of the pipes also have names on them."

They also found plenty of animal bones, some of which showed signs of butchery.

The site also bears signs of industrial activity in the medieval era and Mr Stone believed it could have been associated with dyeing and fulling.

He drew similar conclusions from an excavation at the Heritage Centre site and speculated this area of the town might have a long history in the cloth industry in medieval times.

The history of Chippenham will be further investigated in a special Chippenham History Day the heritage centre is organising in conjunction with Victoria County History, in the town hall on March 19.

Seven speakers, including historian writer and broadcaster Adrian Tinniswood, will examine Chippenham's past.

There will also be an exhibition and bookstalls.

Tickets cost £10 per person for a whole-day event the first of its kind in the town.