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Summary

Roman road, continuation of Mareham Lane, north of Sleaford, along Bloxholm Lane

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}

<01> Margary, I.D., 1973, Roman Roads in Britain (3rd edition), pp.234-5 (260) (Bibliographic Reference). SLI1094.

<02> Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, 1992-1996, National Mapping Programme, LI:852.7.1 (Map). SLI3613.

<03> Archaeological Project Services, 1998, Archaeological Evaluation on Land Adjacent to North Junction, Sleaford, SNJ97 (Report). SLI1880.

<04> Archaeological Project Services, 1998, Archaeological Evaluation on Land Adjacent to North Junction, Sleaford, LCNCC 256.97 (Archive). SLI1569.

<05> NORTH KESTEVEN RECORDS, NK 57.70, 0, - (Index). SLI2114.

<06> Archaeological Project Services, June 2000, Archaeological Watching Brief on roadworks along East Road, Sleaford, SKR98 (Report). SLI6009.

<07> Archaeological Project Services, June 2000, Archaeological Watching Brief on roadworks along East Road, Sleaford, LCNCC 58.98 (Archive). SLI6010.

<08> The University of York, 2001, Evaluation Programme: Silk Willoughby to Staythorpe Gas Pipeline Phase 3, SSP01 (Report). SLI7291.

<09> The University of York, 2001, Evaluation Programme: Silk Willoughby to Staythorpe Gas Pipeline Phase 3, LCNCC:252.99 (Archive). SLI7292.

<10> Archaeological Project Services, 2002, Archaeological Investigations on land at East Road, Sleaford, ERSC01 (Report). SLI7921.

<11> Archaeological Project Services, 2002, Archaeological Investigations on land at East Road, Sleaford, LCNCC:2001.80 (Archive). SLI7922.

<12> Lindsey Archaeological Services, April 2000, Archaeological monitoring and excavations: Dunston nitrate blending scheme, BDM98, page 10 (Report). SLI6048.

<13> Lindsey Archaeological Services, April 2000, Archaeological monitoring and excavations: Dunston nitrate blending scheme, LCNCC 96.98 (Archive). SLI6050.

<14> Northamptonshire Archaeology, Mar 2005, Archaeological Trial Excavation at Sleaford Enterprise Park, SEP05 (Report). SLI10071.

<15> Northamptonshire Archaeology, Mar 2005, Archaeological Trial Excavation at Sleaford Enterprise Park, LCNCC 2004.189 (Archive). SLI10072.

<16> SMR FILE, TF 05 SE:E (Index). SLI2987.

<17> ASHBY DE LA LAUNDE AND BLOXHOLM SMR FILE, TF 05 SE: AN (Index). SLI2883.

<18> 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 (Aerial Photograph). SLI198.

<19> John A. East, 1978-80, John East Collection of Aerial Photographs, 1715/79 (Aerial Photograph). SLI182.

<20> 1945-84, CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY COLLECTION, AAA57; AGC77, 82; ABK22, 24, 27, 29, 30; AFP11; CJU90; CJV6, 10, 11; NQ58-63 (Aerial Photograph). SLI173.

<21> THOMSON B, 1992, Untitled Source, 05/07/92 (Aerial Photograph). SLI205.

<22> Leasingham SMR cards, TF 04 NE; U, AG (Index). SLI3127.

<23> HAYES, J.T. AND WILSON, P., 1959-87, RCHM, - (Aerial Photograph). SLI152.

<24> Ruskington SMR File, TF 04 NE; P, TF 05 SE; P, Z (Index). SLI3238.

<25> Ordnance Survey, Ruskington Ordnance Survey Cards, TF 04 NE; 32 (Index). SLI2701.

<26> Archaeological Project Services, 2007, Archaeological Excavation on Land at Sleaford Enterprise Park, East Road, Sleaford, SLEP06 (Report). SLI11278.

<27> Archaeological Project Services, 2007, Archaeological Excavation on Land at Sleaford Enterprise Park, East Road, Sleaford, LCNCC 2006.284 (Archive). SLI11279.

<28> 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 (Article in Serial). SLI11988.

<29> 1946-98, RCHME, TF 0748/2 (Aerial Photograph). SLI193.

Monument Types

• ROAD (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)

Associated Events

• Watching brief on roadworks along East Road
• Watching brief along a pipeline route - Silk Willoughby to Staythorpe
• Watching brief on land at East Road, Sleaford
• Trial trenching at Sleaford Enterprise Park
• Archaeological evaluation on land adjacent to North Road, Sleaford
• Aerial photograph of land north of Bloxholm Hall, Bloxholm
• Aerial photograph of land east of Moor Farm, Bloxholm
• Aerial photograph of land east of Moor Farm, Bloxholm
• Aerial photograph of land west of Hartswood, Bloxholm
• Aerial photographs of land to the south of Moor Farm, Bloxholm
• Aerial photograph of land to the southeast of Moor Farm, Bloxholm
• Aerial photograph of land to the east of Moor Farm, Bloxholm
• Aerial photographs of land east of Moor Farm, Bloxholm
• Aerial photographic survey of the Roman road and surrounding land, Leasingham and Ruskington
• Aerial photographic survey of the Roman road and surrounding land, Leasingham
• Aerial photographic survey of the Roman road and surrounding land, Leasingham
• Aerial photographic survey of the Roman road near Hoyle House, Leasingham
• Aerial photographic survey of the Roman road, Leasingham and Ruskington
• Aerial photographic survey of cropmarks to the south of Moor Farm, Leasingham
• Aerial photographic survey of cropmarks north and south of Moor Lane, Leasingham
• Aerial photograph of the Roman road and other features near Barn Farm, Ruskington
• Aerial photograph of the Roman road and other features near American Cottage, Ruskington
• Aerial photograph of the Roman road and part of a possible settlement west of Barn Farm, Ruskington
• Aerial photographs of the Roman road and part of a possible settlement west of Barn Farm, Ruskington
• Aerial photograph of the Roman road and part of a possible settlement west of Barn Farm, Ruskington
• Archaeological excavation at Sleaford Enterprise Park
• Aerial photographs of features to the north of Moor Farm, Sleaford

Protected Status

• SHINE
• SHINE
• SHINE
• SHINE
• Conservation Area

Sources and further reading

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