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| HER Number: | MDV18565 |
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| Name: | The Fosse Way to the east of Ashe Farm, |
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Summary
From Musbury to Abbey Gate the course of the Fosse Way is considered to be that largely now followed by the A358. However, earthworks visible on LiDAR imagery suggest that rather than deviate around a small hill near Ashe Farm, as the road does today, the course of the Roman road may have run straight across the fields to the east.
Location
| Grid Reference: | SY 280 958 |
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| Map Sheet: | SY29NE |
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| Admin Area | Devon |
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| Civil Parish | Musbury |
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| District | East Devon |
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| Ecclesiastical Parish | MUSBURY |
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Protected Status: none recorded
Other References/Statuses
- Old DCC SMR Ref: SY29NE/50
- Old DCC SMR Ref: SY29NE/50/1
Monument Type(s) and Dates
- ROAD? (Roman - 43 AD (Between) to 409 AD (Between))
Full description
Margary, I. D., 1967, Roman Roads in Britain, 123 (Monograph). SDV24025.
It is likely that the Fosse Way began near Axmouth and that it is represented by most of the course of the present road to within a mile of Axminster. From Musbury to Abbey Gate the road is nearly straight apart from one deviation around a small hill.
Turton, S. D. + Weddell, P. J., 1990, Historic Landscape Assessment of Higher Bruckland Possible Reservoir Site and Six Reservoir Service Areas in the Axe Valley, 5; Figure 2 (Report - Assessment). SDV351551.
Just to the south-east of Ashe Farm, and south of the bend in the A356 lay lands which belonged to Little Trill in the mid 19th century (see 3.5). If the Fosse Way followed a straight course from Abbey Gate towards Musbury it would have passed through these fields, which were variously referred to as Elfords Lands. As in section 3.3 above, an alternative course would have been along the line of the present A354, i.e. adjoining the eventual site of Ashe House and chapel.
Exeter Archaeology, 2003-2004, East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey, Site No. 1129 (Archive - Survey). SDV351568.
The alignment of the Fosse Way to south of Axminster may be indicated by the A358 Musbury Road but this is not certain.
SMR.
Environment Agency WMS, 2022, Environment Agency LIDAR Composite DTM 2022 - 1m (Cartographic). SDV365447.
Earthworks visible on LiDAR imagery suggest that, rather than deviate around the hill, as the A358 does today, the course of the Roman road ran straight across the fields from Warlake at SY28199599 to rejoin what is now the A358 at SY27839570.
Sources / Further Reading
| SDV24025 | Monograph: Margary, I. D.. 1967. Roman Roads in Britain. Roman Roads in Britain. Hardback Volume. 123. |
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| SDV351551 | Report - Assessment: Turton, S. D. + Weddell, P. J.. 1990. Historic Landscape Assessment of Higher Bruckland Possible Reservoir Site and Six Reservoir Service Areas in the Axe Valley. Exeter Museums Archaeological Field Unit Report. 90.16. A4 Stapled + Digital. 5; Figure 2. |
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| SDV351568 | Archive - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003-2004. East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey. East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey. Digital + Mixed Archive Material. Site No. 1129. |
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| SDV365447 | Cartographic: Environment Agency WMS. 2022. Environment Agency LIDAR Composite DTM 2022 - 1m. Environment Agency LiDAR data. Digital. [Mapped feature: #145348 ] |
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Associated Monuments
| MDV135880 | Part of: The Fosse Way in Devon (Monument) |
Associated Finds: none recorded
Associated Events: none recorded
| Date Last Edited: | Jan 16 2026 2:12PM |
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