Monument record 2870/1/9 - Possible route of Roman road, south of Fineshade Abbey

Slight earthworks of a possible road are visible on lidar imagery and may indicate an alternative route for a section of the Roman road between Ailsworth and Kings Cliffe.

{1} Slight earthworks of a linear feature are visible on lidar. The earthworks are of a linear feature aligned broadly ENE-WSW. In places they appear to be truncated by medieval/post-medieval ridge and furrow. The earthworks may be a section of the Ailsworth to Kings Cliffe Roman road, on a slightly different alignment than previously mapped. The eastern extent of the road is lost beneath park rides, but probably continues along this route. [There has not yet been substantive proof of the former route in this exact area.]

{2} Lidar survey has been undertaken along the course of the RR571 extension. The lidar data show it clearly continuing on its WSW orientation to the north of King's Cliffe, passing through Millennium Wood and into West Hay woods. The feature is a positive feature on the lidar Local Relief Model (LRM) dataset. In the woods it mostly underlies a modern woodland track but can be seen when the track bends off course. On leaving West Hay woods the road crosses open fields for a short section at SP 9808 9746 where a scatter of limestone can be observed. The road then enters Lynn Wood for c650m and crosses the A43.

<1> Environment Agency, LIDAR Composite DTM - 1m, Accessed 11/12/2024 (Digital Plots). SNN111710.

<2> 2024, Roman Roads in 2023- recent research and fieldwork on Roman roads in Britain, p. 343-6; Dr Wayne Kirk and David Ratledge (Article). SNN116690.

Record last edited

Feb 25 2025 7:29PM