More information : During excavations at Caermote Roman fort Haverfield noted that the
southern entrance was still recognisable and through the middle of it
ran a raised bank 11ft wide and at its crown 2 ft high, composed of
gravel and stones - the biggest stones in the centre and at the edges
as kerbs. This road was traced for about 150 yards southwards, until
it was lost in a small gully. Trenching at the north entrance
revealed plentiful road metalling and it was presumed that the road
ran through the outer fort from north to south. Bellhouse notes a
solidly made, kerbed road leaving the fort from the south but could
only trace a short length as far as the modern road. The road
continued northwards through the larger fort but gave off two
branches one to the NW, one to the NE, about 80 yards beyond the
north rampart.
Allan suggests that a hard grassy track, 5 paces wide, with ditches
at NY 204 366 may represent the road southward. Further traces may
exist around NY 208357 where there are "Roman-like approaches to
Scalegill Beck", There is also a shelf at NY 210352, whilst on the
north side of Bewaldeth Beck at Bewaldeth farmstead exists a hollow
which may be a cutting. To the north of the fort the NW branch road
may be continued beyond the quarry by vestiges of a farm-track up
the slope. (1)
|