One of the major types of evidence of new uses of public buildings in the later Roman period is industrial activity. The nature of this activity leaves obvious traces in the archaeological record, and there were probably other contemporary uses of the space that are not represented in what has survived. The industrial evidence has generally been considered to represent the decline of the buildings, with living standards across the towns much reduced. In some other parts of the Empire, especially Italy and North Africa, however, interpretations of industrial activity are now placing more emphasis on the themes of change, adaptation, and continuing dynamism (Christie 2006; Leone 2007). For Britain, by scrutinising the evidence and possible interpretations, a different and more dynamic understanding of public buildings, and towns in general, can be proposed.

Evidence of industrial activity includes iron-working, bronze-working, lead-working, pewter manufacture, and coin production, along with glass-working and bone-working (Figure 7.1). One case of lime production, for use in mortar and plaster, was identified within the baths-basilica at Wroxeter (Barker et al. 1997: 96), suggesting continual structural regeneration. The vast majority of buildings with evidence of industrial activity had at least some parts of their structures still standing at this time. Metalworking constitutes the majority of the evidence so it will provide much of the focus here.