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The Roman Road from Sedbergh to Kirkby Stephen, Margary 731Included by Margary but there is some doubt as to whether this truly is a Roman Road. Arguments for its inclusion are the several "street" names along it and it does have many characteristic Roman features. Those street names are, from south to north: Street Road (across Fell End), Streetside (farm), Street (the hamlet) with The Street and Street Farm. Bluecaster too has Roman connotations. Those Roman characteristics: cleverly engineered and direct across Bluecaster side with a classic dog-legged descent and ascent at the River Rawthey, direct and well engineered along Fell End too. Arguments against it are the failures to connect it up to (Church) Brough fort at the north end and the main north-south road at the Sedbergh end. Other arguments for it is that it provides the complementary link via the Stainmore pass that Margary 820 does on the east side of the Pennines (ref. Mike Bishop). Adding to this is that Brough appears, on the basis of numerous lead sealings, to have been a distribution point. This makes no sense if it lies on a single road - it would need to be at a road hub. This road could provide one of those links. Complicating matters for us were the actions of the Sedbergh Turnpike Trust who modified, upgraded and bypassed several sections of the local roads here that were formally ancient routes. Because this is a somewhat disputed Roman road I have included more images than normal so you can make up your own mind! Recent Archaeological Survey: In June 2010, Ed Dennison Archaeological Services (EDAS) Ltd were commissioned by Robert White, Senior Conservation Archaeologist for the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA), to undertake a detailed topographical survey prior to, and a subsequent watching brief during, drainage works carried out along the line of a probable minor Roman road alignment on Bluecaster Side, near Sedbergh, Cumbria (NGR SD 7032 9670 centred). The area of survey measured 610m long by c.20m wide, centred on the line of the probable Roman road, from a point 250m north-east of Bluecaster Side as far as Near Gill (between NGRs SD 7024 9652 and SD 7060 9700). See Link
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© David Ratledge |