Monument record MLI60813 - Roman road, continuation of Mareham Lane, north of Sleaford, along Bloxholm Lane
Summary
Roman road, continuation of Mareham Lane, north of Sleaford, along Bloxholm Lane
Type and Period (1)
- ROAD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
Protected Status/Designation
Full Description
The Roman road of Mareham Lane continued north after Sleaford, substantial traces of which have now been identified. The band of scattered metalling and the side ditches are visible on aerial photographs. After following the existing road for three quarters of a mile, the Roman road diverges very gradually on the west side from Moor House onwards, pointing to a house just on the corner of Moor Lane (Leasingham Moor) and to the buildings of Moor Farm just beyond. Here, on a high point, a new alignment begins pointing more to the north-west and passing along the west side of Ruskington village, where a short piece of the road to Dorrington follows it. From this road it soon diverges westward, making for Bloxholm, on the approach to which it is marked by a long line of hedgerows and a raised cart-track, and then falling in with the line of the village street. A raised ridge just within the frontage of Bloxholm Hall may represent it. Further raised field boundaries mark it on the same line, passing half a mile to the east of Ashby de la Launde as far as the south-east corner of Rowston Covert just beyond. No further traces have yet been found, but if the line continued across Scopwick Heath it would fall in, at Metheringham Lodge, with the direct road running in straight lengths to Bracebridge Heath and Lincoln which is called Bloxholm Lane, although it does not have any direct link to Bloxholm. This road has wide verges and its major changes of line seem to occur on high points. It appears to fork into the present main road from Sleaford just before Bracebridge Heath. {1}
REMAINS OF MAREHAM LANE WERE REVEALED DURING AN EVALUATION ON LAND ADJACENT TO NORTH JUNCTION, EAST ROAD. {3}{4}
THREE SHERDS OF ROMAN GREY WARE POTTERY WERE RETRIEVED FROM A HOLE DUG BY ANGLIAN WATER ON BOSTON ROAD/MAREHAM LANE IN SLEAFORD IN THE HOPLANDS AREA AT TF 0777 4582. INFO GARY TAYLOR. {5}
During a watching brief, a surface of small stones and occasional cobbles was found to the east of East Road during topsoil stripping. This was thought to represent a continuation of Mareham Lane Roman Road. {6}{7}
During a watching brief at 508200 343700 part of Mareham lane was recorded. It is well preserved in a slight hollow, the kerbstones that form the edge of the road have been cut from larger blocks of limestone, the main body of the road consists of smaller stones laid on edge. {8}{9}
During a watching brief at TF 0792 4701, undated ditches, pits and the remains of mettaling were recorded. Although undated these are thought to represent a northwards continuation of Mareham Lane. Fragments of charred spelt wheat were recovered from one of the ditches or pits. Recutting of some of these ditches positively dated by Roman pottery sherds indicate that this trackway was maintained and was in use until the 3rd-4th centuries. {10}{11}
During the construction of a water pipeline, part of which runs along Bloxholm Lane, contractors reported only rock beneath the modern road, unlike the Sleaford Road and Ermine Street where gravel metalling was recorded. Therefore, a Roman origin for this part of Bloxholm Lane is unlikely. {12}{13}
Six trial trenches were excavated at Sleaford Enterprise Park prior to development. Part of the Roman road was thought to have been uncovered with a ditch on the western boundary, but seemed to peter out on the eastern side. {14}{15}
This ditch was later found to be a modern dyke.{26}{27}
The line of the Roman road shows as a pair of parallel ditches on an aerial photograph of 1959 (TF 0619 5487 to TF 0685 5320). {16}
Mareham Lane revealed as parallel ditches at TF 072522.{17}
The road is depicted as cropmarks on a series of aerial photographs.{18}{19}{20}{21}{23}{29}
Several cropmarks reveal the alignment of the road through Leasingham parish, including a tributary road and possible linked trackways. {20}{22}{23}
Cropmarks show the continuation of the road through Ruskington parish. {18}{24}{25}
During archaeological excavation at TF 0790 4690 the well-preserved metalled surface of Mareham Lane was revealed. Medieval deposits along the road may indicate a phase of cleaning out any Roman roadside ditches and dumping mixed metalling to widen or maintain the road. Medieval and post medieval horse shoes and probable shoe nails found along the road suggest that it was maintained and used until at least the 19th century. It was also revealed that deposits found during previous trial trenching at the site (see {14}{15} above) did not represent the Roman road, which is actually situated approximately 3m to the west. The possible roadside ditch found during the trial trenching was discovered to be a modern dyke. {26}{27}
Sources/Archives (29)
- <01> SLI1094 Bibliographic Reference: Margary, I.D.. 1973. Roman Roads in Britain (3rd edition). pp.234-5 (260).
- <02> SLI3613 Map: Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. 1992-1996. National Mapping Programme. LI:852.7.1.
- <03> SLI1880 Report: Archaeological Project Services. 1998. Archaeological Evaluation on Land Adjacent to North Junction, Sleaford. SNJ97.
- <04> SLI1569 Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 1998. Archaeological Evaluation on Land Adjacent to North Junction, Sleaford. LCNCC 256.97.
- <05> SLI2114 Index: NORTH KESTEVEN RECORDS. SLEAFORD. NK 57.70, 0, -.
- <06> SLI6009 Report: Archaeological Project Services. June 2000. Archaeological Watching Brief on roadworks along East Road, Sleaford. SKR98.
- <07> SLI6010 Archive: Archaeological Project Services. June 2000. Archaeological Watching Brief on roadworks along East Road, Sleaford. LCNCC 58.98.
- <08> SLI7291 Report: The University of York. 2001. Evaluation Programme: Silk Willoughby to Staythorpe Gas Pipeline Phase 3. SSP01.
- <09> SLI7292 Archive: The University of York. 2001. Evaluation Programme: Silk Willoughby to Staythorpe Gas Pipeline Phase 3. LCNCC:252.99.
- <10> SLI7921 Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2002. Archaeological Investigations on land at East Road, Sleaford. ERSC01.
- <11> SLI7922 Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 2002. Archaeological Investigations on land at East Road, Sleaford. LCNCC:2001.80.
- <12> SLI6048 Report: Lindsey Archaeological Services. April 2000. Archaeological monitoring and excavations: Dunston nitrate blending scheme. BDM98, page 10.
- <13> SLI6050 Archive: Lindsey Archaeological Services. April 2000. Archaeological monitoring and excavations: Dunston nitrate blending scheme. LCNCC 96.98.
- <14> SLI10071 Report: Northamptonshire Archaeology. Mar 2005. Archaeological Trial Excavation at Sleaford Enterprise Park. SEP05.
- <15> SLI10072 Archive: Northamptonshire Archaeology. Mar 2005. Archaeological Trial Excavation at Sleaford Enterprise Park. LCNCC 2004.189.
- <16> SLI2987 Index: SMR FILE. DIGBY. TF 05 SE:E.
- <17> SLI2883 Index: ASHBY DE LA LAUNDE AND BLOXHOLM SMR FILE. ASHBY DE LA LAUNDE AND BLOXHOLM. TF 05 SE: AN.
- <18> SLI198 Aerial Photograph: HAYES, J.T.. 1953-87. RCHM. TH1, TH7(2), TH11, TH8(2), TH6(2), TH22(2), TH23(2), 3/3, 3/8, Ruskington 8/3, Ruskington B.
- <19> SLI182 Aerial Photograph: John A. East. 1978-80. John East Collection of Aerial Photographs. 1715/79.
- <20> SLI173 Aerial Photograph: 1945-84. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY COLLECTION. AAA57; AGC77, 82; ABK22, 24, 27, 29, 30; AFP11; CJU90; CJV6, 10, 11; NQ58-63.
- <21> SLI205 Aerial Photograph: THOMSON B. 1992. 05/07/92.
- <22> SLI3127 Index: Leasingham SMR cards. LEASINGHAM. TF 04 NE; U, AG.
- <23> SLI152 Aerial Photograph: HAYES, J.T. AND WILSON, P.. 1959-87. RCHM. -.
- <24> SLI3238 Index: Ruskington SMR File. RUSKINGTON. TF 04 NE; P, TF 05 SE; P, Z.
- <25> SLI2701 Index: Ordnance Survey. Ruskington Ordnance Survey Cards. RUSKINGTON. TF 04 NE; 32.
- <26> SLI11278 Report: Archaeological Project Services. 2007. Archaeological Excavation on Land at Sleaford Enterprise Park, East Road, Sleaford. SLEP06.
- <27> SLI11279 Archive: Archaeological Project Services. 2007. Archaeological Excavation on Land at Sleaford Enterprise Park, East Road, Sleaford. LCNCC 2006.284.
- <28> SLI11988 Article in Serial: FENNELL, K.R.. 1959. 'King Street in Kesteven and some notes on Old Sleaford' in The Lincolnshire Historian. Vol 2 No. 6, pp 22-27.
- <29> SLI193 Aerial Photograph: 1946-98. RCHME. TF 0748/2.
Map
Location
Grid reference | Centred TF 0279 6142 (9589m by 19920m) Centre |
---|---|
Civil Parish | DIGBY, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE |
Civil Parish | ASHBY DE LA LAUNDE AND BLOXHOLM, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE |
Civil Parish | LEASINGHAM, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE |
Civil Parish | RUSKINGTON, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE |
Civil Parish | SCOPWICK, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE |
Civil Parish | SLEAFORD, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE |
Civil Parish | BLANKNEY, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE |
Civil Parish | BRACEBRIDGE HEATH, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE |
Civil Parish | BRANSTON AND MERE, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE |
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
Related Events/Activities (27)
- Event - Survey: Aerial photograph of land east of Moor Farm, Bloxholm (ELI7094)
- Event - Survey: Aerial photograph of land east of Moor Farm, Bloxholm (ELI7095)
- Event - Survey: Aerial photograph of land north of Bloxholm Hall, Bloxholm (ELI7091)
- Event - Survey: Aerial photograph of land to the east of Moor Farm, Bloxholm (ELI7105)
- Event - Survey: Aerial photograph of land to the southeast of Moor Farm, Bloxholm (ELI7102)
- Event - Survey: Aerial photograph of land west of Hartswood, Bloxholm (ELI7097)
- Event - Survey: Aerial photograph of the Roman road and other features near American Cottage, Ruskington (ELI7264)
- Event - Survey: Aerial photograph of the Roman road and other features near Barn Farm, Ruskington (ELI7263)
- Event - Survey: Aerial photograph of the Roman road and part of a possible settlement west of Barn Farm, Ruskington (ELI7270)
- Event - Survey: Aerial photograph of the Roman road and part of a possible settlement west of Barn Farm, Ruskington (ELI7273)
- Event - Survey: Aerial photographic survey of cropmarks north and south of Moor Lane, Leasingham (ELI7165)
- Event - Survey: Aerial photographic survey of cropmarks to the south of Moor Farm, Leasingham (ELI7164)
- Event - Survey: Aerial photographic survey of the Roman road and surrounding land, Leasingham (ELI7159)
- Event - Survey: Aerial photographic survey of the Roman road and surrounding land, Leasingham (ELI7160)
- Event - Survey: Aerial photographic survey of the Roman road and surrounding land, Leasingham and Ruskington (ELI7158)
- Event - Survey: Aerial photographic survey of the Roman road near Hoyle House, Leasingham (ELI7161)
- Event - Survey: Aerial photographic survey of the Roman road, Leasingham and Ruskington (ELI7162)
- Event - Survey: Aerial photographs of features to the north of Moor Farm, Sleaford (ELI8679)
- Event - Survey: Aerial photographs of land east of Moor Farm, Bloxholm (ELI7106)
- Event - Survey: Aerial photographs of land to the south of Moor Farm, Bloxholm (ELI7099)
- Event - Survey: Aerial photographs of the Roman road and part of a possible settlement west of Barn Farm, Ruskington (ELI7272)
- Event - Intervention: Archaeological evaluation on land adjacent to North Road, Sleaford (ELI6880)
- Event - Intervention: Archaeological excavation at Sleaford Enterprise Park (ELI7670)
- Event - Intervention: Trial trenching at Sleaford Enterprise Park (ELI5987)
- Event - Intervention: Watching brief along a pipeline route - Silk Willoughby to Staythorpe (ELI2671)
- Event - Intervention: Watching brief on land at East Road, Sleaford (ELI3200)
- Event - Intervention: Watching brief on roadworks along East Road (ELI1289)
Please contact the HER for details.
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Record last edited
Mar 21 2021 8:35PM
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