Available onlineRoman, Medieval and Tudor era
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Roman settlement at Walton
Evidence of Roman occupation has been found in the area of Walton beneath what is now the H9 Road (Groveway). A few pieces of Roman and Belgic pottery were found during the construction of the OU campus at Walton Hall in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In November 1990 an archaeological evaluation was carried out on the grounds of the campus where the Michael Young building was later constructed in 2001, and further evidence of Roman occupation was discovered.
The author of the report - R. J. Zeepvat of Milton Keynes Archaeology Unit - stated that “Features producing finds of Roman date were noted… Evidence from pot sherds recovered both from features revealed during trenching, and picked up from the site spoil tips, suggests a span of occupation at Walton from the mid third to fourth century, though there is one sherd of possible late first century date and a couple of early second century sherds. This interpretation is supported by the coin evidence; apart from one very worn first/second century piece, the majority of coins are small bronzes ranging in date from 268-341, with one later coin of 364-78.”
The two Roman coins shown on this page were found on The Open University campus at Walton Hall in 1990 and are now held at Milton Keynes Museum. They are both from the reign of the Emperor Constantine (AD 280-337).
Zeepvat concluded that a Roman native occupation site does exist at Walton Hall close to another area excavated in 1972 and covering about half a hectare. He compares the site to others uncovered in Milton Keynes where: “Structural evidence consists of gullies, timber-slots and post-holes marking the site of timber buildings, and cobbled yards and paths linking them. Further evidence of occupation is provided by pits and ditches containing domestic refuse, while outlying features often prove to be field boundaries or stock enclosures.”
Medieval Walton
The name Walton was not recorded in the Domesday survey of 1086. The origin of the name is disputed. It may come from ‘Walla-ton’ derived from an early Saxon Lord - ‘Walla’ and the settlement (ton) that he established. It may also have received its name from being ‘walled or fenced about’ at around the time St Michael’s Church was founded in 1189. Another theory is that it may have come from an early name ‘Waleton’ possibly derived from Wald-tun meaning a weald (woodland) village.
The archaeological and historical evidence from both St Michael’s Church and surrounding area suggests that the development of Walton occurred sometime during the early to mid-12th century. The earthworks of the Medieval village which was surveyed in 1972 before the construction of Groveway (H9) showed that it consisted of two ends. The Northern end contained the site of an early manor house to the north of the church and several house sites to the east of it. After several rebuilds this manor house was to become the Walton Hall that exists on campus today. The map on this page is a section from a Milton Keynes Heritage Association Map of Milton Keynes showing various Roman, Medieval and post Medieval sites and buildings of interest in the areas of Walton and Walton Hall.
