Monument record MLI60638 - Ermine Street, North and South Kesteven

Summary

Roman Ermine Street, south of Lincoln, in North and South Kesteven.

Type and Period (3)

  • (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
  • ? (Roman - 43 AD? to 409 AD?)
  • ? (Roman - 43 AD? to 409 AD?)

Protected Status/Designation

Full Description

Next to Watling Street, this road was perhaps the most important thoroughfare in Britain, for it was designed to give direct communication to the main centres of military occupation at Lincoln and York. It must have been designed and laid out at a very early stage in the occupation and, no doubt, this was done by the leading engineers available. It is unlikely that a direct northern track upon anything like this line had ever existed. The alignments were therefore chosen to give the most suitable and direct course almost due north from London. It has regularly spaced settlements along its length which very probably owe their origin to military posts. In North Kesteven it runs from Ancaster to Bracebridge, and at Bracebridge it is joined by the Foss Way. {1}{2} It seems that most of the prehistoric and Romano-British occupation in the area was centred on a narrow belt between Ermine Street and the Lincoln Edge. This could suggest that the Romano-British settlement pattern was determined more by the existence of a pre cursor to Ermine Street (the Jurassic Way) than it was by the road which was built, initally for the Roman army. Recent surveys and excavations on the west side of Ermine Street at Navenby have confirmed that beneath a complex of Roman strip buildings are late prehistoric settlement enclosures, the sitings of which were clearly not based on Roman lines of communication. {3} During monitoring of a water mains replacement scheme, part of which took place in Bracebridge Heath, evidence for Ermine Street, in the form of metalling and road side ditches, was revealed. The work confirmed the alignment of the road where it diverges from Grantham Road, but was unable to locate it further north. {4}{5} At SK 9852 6295 a section was dug across Ermine Street during runway construction in April 1954. Four to five inches of metalling was observed which was assumed to be Roman. Later metalling was observed which appeared to indicate a later surface of Ermine Street. {6}{7} During a watching brief in Navenby features relating to Ermine Street were recorded. The road surface was mainly constructed from unmortared, water rounded, sub oval quartzite pebbles laid directly on the ground surface. The sparsity of these pebbles in the local area, combined with evidence from prior excavations, leads to the conclusion that the pebbles were probably imported. The source is unknown at present, although the quarries must have been extensive. The eastern and western edges of the road were undetected, either by this watching brief or a previous watching brief conducted along the western edge of High Dike, about ten metres from the present works, leading to the conclusion that Ermine Street was over 13 metres wide at this point. A second metalled surface was revealed during a prior watching brief, but not by this one, suggesting that the road was narrower or had migrated slightly westwards. Evidence suggests that the width of Ermine Street was variable, and it may be that the sections examined on the east and west side of the road at Navenby either belong to different phases, or the road was very wide at this point. The Romano British settlement at Navenby (PRN 60537), which brackets Ermine Street, had an Iron Age precursor (PRN 60557). This settlement may have been the catalyst for development of the site after the conquest, leading to enhancement of the road. {8}{9} During works associated with the replacement of an existing water pipe between Harmston and Bracebridge Heath, in Access Pit 27 at SK 9789 6642 a former road surface was identified. It closely resembles the remains of Ermine Street which were identified in Navenby. The remains here could represent the Roman surface of Ermine Street on a slightly different alignment. It may also be a minor road running perpendicular to Ermine Street, perhaps serving the possible farmstead or settlement which is located to the west of Ermine Street. During the same works in Access Pits 29 (at c.SK 9789 6689) and 31 (at c.SK 9786 6716) a road surface the same as that found in Access Pit 27 was revealed, and it suggested that this also represents the surface of Ermine Street. {10}{11} In 1959 to 1960 emergency excavations were carried out by the Ministry of Works. The town wall and portions of Ermine Street near the north gate of the Roman town were located. {12} There was excavation prior to building operations in 1960 and 1961 in Ancaster. Five levels of superimposed gravel bedding of the west edge of Roman Ermine Street were located, as well as footings of the Roman town wall and the west edge of the North gateway. {13} In Ancaster at SK 982 433 during drain clearage, it is thought that part of Ermine Street was uncovered in June 2000. It was reported by the householder. {14} The remains of Ermine Street can be seen surviving as cropmarks in Waddington and Harmston on aerial photographs. {15} During a watching brief along a stretch of Ermine Street SK952352 954359, a deposit of limestone and loose sand was identified, although this is not certain, it is possible that this could be part of the Romano-British road make up. {16}{17} In 1980 in Coleby the South Lincolnshire Archaeological Unit recorded a section through Ermine Street. The road was found to run through a field to the west of the green lane indicated on Ordnance Survey maps as being the line of Ermine Street. The eastern road ditch was not available for excavation due to the presence of a water main. The western ditch was located and excavated and a section cut through the agger down to undisturbed limestone. Two periods of road were recorded; the early road linking Lincoln with the south and major reconstruction which meant its continued use until replaced by the green lane, perhaps at the time of enclosure. The surface of the later road was badly disturbed by ploughing. {18}{19}{20} During works for a water mains replacement (Coleby to Wellingore) a pipe trench crossed Ermine Street and a section was recorded at SK 9881 6108 (Area 1). It consisted of a cambered surface of compacted limestone. Below the surface was a layer of dark brown silt which was possibly the remains of a topsoil pre dating the road, or material dumped during its construction. This soil lay directly on the weathered natural limestone. Fragmentary remains of the Roman road surface were identified to the south in Navenby, during the same project. They were located slightly to the east of the junction between High Dyke and Green Man Lane (Area 5). Further traces of Ermine Street were recorded near Chapel Lane (Area 6), although it seems that in the later Roman period, stone buildings had started to encroach on the west side of Ermine Street. {21}{22} During the improvements to the Main Trunk Phase III (SK 9915 5176 to SK 9924 5531) previous road consruction layers were identified, unfortunately due to lack of any certain firm datable evidence it is difficult to say if the are ancient or not. Two sherds of either Roman or Iron Age pottery was also recovered. {23}{24} It is suggested that the line of Ermine Street was visible north of Grange Farm in Bracebridge Heath where it rejoins Grantham Road. However, it seems that the line of Ermine Street was apparently not visible at the time of Enclosure. An excavation (Area A at SK 9791 6646) during the construction of a water pipeline from Bracebridge Heath to Dunston, identified the western edge of the heavily truncated Roman road. These were later exposed in the pipe trench, with the last traces of disturbed fine gravel from the metalled surface. A further ditch was noted, which was not investigated, was thought to be the eastern ditch of Ermine Street. {25}{26}{27} Remains from ploughing and levelling at the side of Ermine Street were observed at SK 99020 50360. {28}

Sources/Archives (28)

  •  Bibliographic Reference: J.B. Whitwell. 1992. Roman Lincolnshire. p.45, ff.
  •  Bibliographic Reference: Margary, I.D.. 1973. Roman Roads in Britain (3rd edition). p.190.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. Oct 2000. Central Lincs Trunk Main Rehabilitation, Phase1 - Ermine Street, Navenby.
  •  Report: Lindsey Archaeological Services. Apr 2000. Bracebridge Heath-Canwick Mains Replacement Scheme: Mains Laying in Bracebridge Heath. BHC99.
  •  Archive: Lindsey Archaeological Services. 1998. Bracebridge Heath-Canwick Mains Replacement Scheme: Mains Laying in Bracebridge Heath. LCNCC 137.98.
  •  Index: Lincolnshire County Council. Sites and Monuments Record Card Index. SK 96 SE: N.
  •  Correspondence: Letters regarding runway construction. -.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. Oct 2000. Central Lincs Trunk Main Rehabilitation, Phase1 - Ermine Street, Navenby. ESN00.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology. Oct 2000. Central Lincs Trunk Main Rehabilitation, Phase 1 - Ermine Street, Navenby. LCNCC 2000.141.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. Oct 2000. Central Lincs Trunk Main Rehabilitation, Phase II - Harmston to Bracebridge Heath. pp.15-7.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2000. Central Lincs Trunk Main Rehabilitation, Phase II - Harmston to Bracebridge Heath. LCNCC 2000.77.
  •  Index: University of Nottingham. 1960. East Midland Archaeological Bulletin. vol.3.
  •  Index: 1961. EAST MIDLANDS ARCHAEOLOGICAL BULLETIN. vol.4.
  •  Index: South Kesteven records. Ancaster. SK 02.108.
  •  Map: Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. 1992-1996. Lincolnshire National Mapping Programme. SK9863: LI.885.6.1.
  •  Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2001. Land along Harrowby lane and Ermine Street. HTR99.
  •  Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 2001. Land along Harrowby Lane and Ermine Street. LCNCC:118.99.
  •  Article in Serial: A.J. White (ed.). 1981. 'Archaeology in Lincolnshire and South Humberside, 1980' in Lincolnshire History and Archaeology. vol.16, pp.70-1.
  •  Article in Serial: Peter Chowne. 1986. Trust for Lincolnshire Archaeology Second Annual Report. pp.12-3.
  •  Article in Serial: Peter Chowne. 1987. Lincolnshire History and Archaeology. vol.22, pp.31-4.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. Jan 1999. Coleby to Wellingore pipeline project. CWP98.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology. Jan 1999. Coleby to Wellingore pipeline project. LCNCC 157.98.
  •  Report: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2002. Central Lincs Trunk Main Phase III, Welbourne - Leadenham. CLTM02.
  •  Archive: Pre-Construct Archaeology. 2002. Central Lincs Trunk Main Phase III, Welbourne- Leadenham. LCNCC:2002.256.
  •  Report: Lindsey Archaeological Services. April 2000. Archaeological monitoring and excavations: Dunston nitrate blending scheme. BDM98.
  •  Archive: Lindsey Archaeological Services. April 2000. Archaeological monitoring and excavations: Dunston nitrate blending scheme. LCNCC 96.98.
  •  Index: North Kesteven Records. Dunston. NK26.17.
  •  Verbal Communication: M.M.. 2006. Verbal communication about various sites in Kesteven. -.

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Grid reference Centred SK 966 427 (5756m by 51419m) (5 map features)
Civil Parish ANCASTER, SOUTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE
Civil Parish COLEBY, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE
Civil Parish COLSTERWORTH, SOUTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE
Civil Parish CRANWELL AND BYARDS LEAP, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE
Civil Parish EASTON, SOUTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE
Civil Parish FULBECK, SOUTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE
Civil Parish GREAT PONTON, SOUTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE
Civil Parish HARMSTON, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE
Civil Parish LEADENHAM, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE
Civil Parish LITTLE PONTON AND STROXTON, SOUTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE
Civil Parish LONDONTHORPE AND HARROWBY WITHOUT, SOUTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE
Civil Parish NAVENBY, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE
Civil Parish NORTH RAUCEBY, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE
Civil Parish NORTH WITHAM, SOUTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE
Civil Parish OLD SOMERBY, SOUTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE
Civil Parish BELTON AND MANTHORPE, SOUTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE
Civil Parish SOUTH RAUCEBY, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE
Civil Parish SOUTH WITHAM, SOUTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE
Civil Parish STAMFORD, SOUTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE
Civil Parish STOKE ROCHFORD, SOUTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE
Civil Parish SYSTON, SOUTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE
Civil Parish TEMPLE BRUER WITH TEMPLE HIGH GRANGE, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE
Civil Parish WADDINGTON, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE
Civil Parish WELBOURN, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE
Civil Parish WELBY, SOUTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE
Civil Parish WELLINGORE, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE
Civil Parish BOOTHBY GRAFFOE, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE
Civil Parish WILSFORD, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE
Civil Parish BRACEBRIDGE HEATH, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE
Civil Parish CASTLE BYTHAM, SOUTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE

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Record last edited

May 18 2023 3:42PM

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