Just two small objects from the Neolithic period are all that have been found from that era in the Yeovil area -a leaf-shaped arrowhead and part of a polished stone axe head. These were discovered close to the Hundred Stone which lies on the ridgeway to the north of the town. This is believed to be a section of the great prehistoric highway, known as the ‘Harroway’ or ‘Hoarway’, stretching from Kent to Cornwall and certainly an arterial way of the Bronze Age. An intriguing discovery, made in 1826 in a quarry near the present Yeovil Junction railway station, did not find its way into print until 1853. It was then stated that a human skeleton had been found in a sitting position in a stone vault cut into solid rock and covered with a rough stone slab. On one side of the figure was an early Bronze Age beaker six and seven-eighths inches (175mm) high, and on the other side a deer’s horn. Nearby, another chamber contained the skeleton of a horse, while yet another, larger, vault contained ‘an immense quantity of human bones with earth and stones’. It is obvious that these interments followed a local battle in which a leader met his death with many of his followers. On the Dorchester Road a Bronze Age burial was uncovered in 1926, when road widening was in progress close to where the road leads to East Coker. A rotary, or ‘beehive’, quern for grinding grain, was recovered from the excavations made to construct a garage in Goldcroft, and 1988 a bronze axehead was unearthed on Wyndham Hill. Perhaps the most important find from this period occurred in 1909 when a gold torc (illustrated above) was found when digging a garden on Hendford Hill. Weighing 5oz 7½ dwt. troy, and with a three-inch (77mm) diameter, it is constructed of composite gold strips and dates from the Middle Bronze Age

The Harrow Way (also spelled as "Harroway") is another name for the "Old Way", an ancient trackway in the south of England, dated by archaeological finds to 600–450 BC, but probably in existence since the Stone Age. The Old Way ran from Seaton in Devon to Dover, Kent. Later the eastern part of the Harrow Way become known as the Pilgrims' Way in the 19th century: the latter was a route invented by Albert Way of the Ordnance Survey, who imagined it (without evidence) to have been a pilgrimage route which ran from Winchester, Hampshire, via Farnham, Surrey , to Canterbury Kent. The western section of the Harrow Way ends in Farnham, the eastern in Dover.

The name may derive from herewag, a military road, orhar, ancient (as in hoary) way, or heargway, the road to the shrine (perhaps Stonehenge). It is sometimes described as the 'oldest road in Britain' and is possibly associated with ancient tin trading.

Looking up to woodland on the Harrow Way near Overton, Hampshire The Harrow Way - overlying road in Basingstoke

The Old Way

The Eastern part of the Harrow Way

The eastern part of the Harrow Way (Old Way) from Farnham, Surrey, later known as the Pilgrims' Way, runs on or parallel to the North Downs Way National trail. The Harrow Way can be traced from Rochester and alternative Channel ports on the Straits of Dover. A principal track also starting in the valley of the Great Stour from Canterbury, to lead along the North Downs or its southern slopes, through Maidstone and Guildford to Farnham,Surrey. With its natural season-round well-drained soil, slightly more humus-rich than the crest itself, forming the most travelled of often several terraced routes.

The Pilgrims' Way, diverts from the Harrow Way and continues from Farnham to Winchester. This pilgrimages route helped the growth of Winchester. Winchester, apart from being an ecclesiastical centre in its own right (the shrine of St Swithin), was an important regional focus and an aggregation point for travellers arriving through the seaports on the south coast. (See Early British Christianity).

Farnham, was a second aggregation point for travellers joining from the south coast. Gibson reports the section going eastward just north of Farnham ran through the area now Farnham Park and continued its course along the chalk outcrop, crossed the Bagshot Road where the Six Bells pub now stands and continued past Badshot Lea, Surrey where an important Neolithic Long Barrow burial mound (tumulus) was found. The Harrow Way then continues to the crest of the Hog's Back where the ancient trackway is known to have run. There are several barrows along the Hog's Back.

Western section

The Harrow Way - surviving track north east of Overton, Hampshire

The western part of the Old Way, the Harrow Way, can be traced from Farnham,Surrey west through Basingstoke and Andover to Salisbury Plain and Stonehenge, Wiltshire, through Dorset and on to Seaton on the Devon coast. In Dorset, the Harrow Way can be traced through the villages of Halstock and Corscombe, where it is known as Common Lane. At the Halstock end, a short length was realigned to form the access for a Roman villa (which was built on the site of a late Iron Age farmstead).

References

1. Brayley, Edward (1850).A topographical history of Surrey. Vol. 4. London: G Willis. p. 218.
2. Margary, Ivan D (1948).Roman Ways in the Weald. London: J M Dent. pp. 260–263.
3. Alexander, Matthew;Tales of Old SurreyISBN 0-905392-41-8
4. Hooper, Wilfrid (1936). "The Pilgrims' Way and its supposed pilgrim use".Surrey Archaeological Collections.44. Guildford: Surrey Archaeological Society: In their train have followed the host of guide-books and popular writers who have expanded and embellishedad libitumas fancy prompted
5. Grinsell, Leslie (1958).The archaeology of Wessex. London: Methuen. p. 298..
   
6. Wright, Christopher John (1971).Pilgrims' Way. London: John Constable. p. 15
7. J.H. Gibson MD, Surrey Archaeological Society, Prehistoric Finds
8. Saxon Farnham by Elfrida Manning, Phillimore & Co, 1970
9. P.R. Lemmey, A History of Halstock

ThePilgrims' Way

(alsoPilgrim's WayorPilgrims Way) is the historical route supposedly taken by pilgrims from Winchester in Hampshire, England, to the shrine of Thomas Becket at Canterbury in Kent. This name, of comparatively recent coinage, is applied to a pre-existing ancient trackway dated by archaeological finds to 600–450 BC, but probably in existence since the Stone Age. The prehistoric route followed the "natural causeway" east to west on the southern slopes of the North Downs.

The course was dictated by the natural geography: it took advantage of the contours, avoided the sticky clay of the land below but also the thinner, overlying "clay with flints" of the summits. In places a coexisting ridgeway and terrace way can be identified; the route followed would have varied with the season, but it would not drop below the upper line of cultivation. The trackway ran the entire length of the North Downs, leading to and from Folkestone: the pilgrims would have had to turn away from it, north along the valley of the Great Stour near Chilham, to reach Canterbury.

History

Map of Pilgrims Way near Titsey, Surrey. The upper route, on the brow of the North Downs, is the ancient trackway (note the archaeological finds at the top left); the lower, almost in the valley, is the route surmised by the Ordnance Survey in the 19th century A section of the lower route, eroded into the slope, in Surrey

The prehistoric trackway extended further than the present Way, providing a link from the narrowest part of the English Channel to the important religious complexes of Avebury and Stonehenge, in Wiltshire, where it is known as the Harroway. The way then existed as "broad and ill-defined corridors of movement up to half a mile wide" and not as a single, well-defined track. The route was still followed as an artery for through traffic in Roman times, a period of continuous use of more than 3000 years.

From Thomas Becket's canonization in 1173, until the dissolution of the monasteries in 1538, his shrine at Canterbury became the most important in the country, indeed "after Rome...the chief shrine in Christendom", and it drew pilgrims from far and wide. Winchester, apart from being an ecclesiastical centre in its own right (the shrine of St Swithin), was an important regional focus and an aggregation point for travellers arriving through the seaports on the south coast. It is "widely accepted" that this was the route taken by Henry II on his pilgrimage of atonement for the death of Bishop Thomas, from France to Canterbury in July 1174, although this has been disputed and some evidence points to his having taken a route via London. Travellers from Winchester to Canterbury naturally used the ancient way, as it was the direct route, and research by local historians has provided much by way of detail—sometimes embellished—of the pilgrims' journeys. The numbers making their way to Canterbury by this route were not recorded, but the estimate by the Kentish historian William Coles Finch that it carried more than 100,000 pilgrims a year is surely an exaggeration; a more prosaic estimate—extrapolated from the records of pilgrims' offerings at the shrine—contends an annual figure closer to 1,000. A separate (and more reliably attested) route to Canterbury from London was by way of Watling Street, as followed by the storytellers in The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer.

Conversely, the concept of a single route called the Pilgrims' Way could be no older than the Victorian Ordnance Survey map of Surrey, whose surveyor, Edward Renouard James, published a pamphlet in 1871 entitled Notes on the Pilgrims' Way in West Surrey. While acknowledging that the route was "little studied" and that "very many persons in the neighbourhood had not been aware of it", he nonetheless caused the name to be inserted on the Ordnance Survey map, giving official sanction to his conjecture. Romantic writers such as Hilaire Belloc were eager to follow this up and they succeeded in creating "a fable of...modern origin" to explain the existence of the Way. In fact, the route as shown on modern maps is not only unsuitable for the mass movement of travellers but has also left few traces of their activity. The official history of the Ordnance Survey acknowledges the "enduring archaeological blunder", blaming the enthusiasm for history of the then Director, General Sir Henry James However, F. C. Elliston-Erwood, a Kentish historian, notes that tithe records dating from before 1815 use the well established name "Pilgrims' Way" to reference and locate pieces of land. Earlier still, surviving thirteenth century documents show a "Pilgrim Road" by the walls of Thornham Castle, Kent, on what is today considered the route.

The Pilgrims' Way is at the centre of the Powell and Pressburger film A Canterbury Tale, with the camera panning along a map of the route at the start of the film.

Route

In the Middle Ages the pilgrims' route left the ancient trackway to climb St Martha's Hill On the Pilgrims' Way near Trottiscliffe, Kent

Anyone walking the 'Pilgrims Way' from Winchester would have started along the Roman road east following the route through New Alresford, Four Marks, Alton and Bentley to Farnham. This roughly follows the modern A31.

The ancient main streets of towns along the route from Farnham (where the old trackway converges with the pilgrims' route) through Guildford ,Dorking and Reigate align west to east, strongly suggesting that this was the most important route that passed through them. On modern Ordnance Survey maps, part of the route is shown running east from Farnham via the heights by Guildford Castle, then north of the village of Shere, north of Dorking, Reigate, Merstham, Chaldon, Godstone, Limpsfield and Westerham, through Otford, Kemsing and Wrotham, north of Trottiscliffe, towards Cuxton (where it crossed the River Medway). South of Rochester, the Pilgrims' Way travels through the villages of Burham, Boxley, Detling and continuing in a south-east direction to the north of the villages of Harrietsham and Lenham. The route continues south-east along the top of the Downs past Charing, to Wye and then turns north to follow the valley of theGreat Stour through Chilham and on to Canterbury.

Along some stretches the pilgrims' route left the ancient trackway to encompass religious sites, examples being Pewley Down, near Guildford, where the later way passed St Martha's Hill and St Catherine's chantry chapel, some 500 metres to the south.^[2]At Reigate the thirteenth-century chapel of St Thomas and a hospice were built for the pilgrims' use, although they were not on the route. Boxley Abbey, with its revered Rood of Grace, was another recognised detour.

National Trail

TheNorth Downs WayNational Trail parallels the old Pilgrims' Way between Farnham and Canterbury. Much of the traditional route of the Pilgrims' Way is now part of the modern road network and the Ramblers have previously advised walkers wishing to follow it to use St. Swithun's Way between Winchester and Farnham and the North Downs Way between Farnham and Canterbury as an alternative.

The route also links with the South Downs Way at Winchester.

1. Brayley, Edward (1850).A topographical history of Surrey. Vol. 4. London: G Willis. p. 218.
2. Margary, Ivan D (1965) [1948].Roman Ways in the Weald(3rd ed.). London: J M Dent. pp. 260–263.
3. Fagg, C. C.; Hutchings, G. E. (1928). "Prehistory". In Ogilvie, Alan Grant (ed.).Great Britain: essays in regional geography. Tansley, A. G. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. p. 29. OCLC 59447377.
4. Wright, Christopher John (1971).A Guide to the Pilgrims' Way. Constable and Co, London.
5. Encyclopædia Britannica (1998)Pilgrims' Way.
6. Wooldridge, Sidney; Hutchings, Geoffrey (1957).London's Countryside : Geographical field work for students and teachers of geography. London: Methuen
7. Castleden, Rodney (1987)."The High Roads" .The Stonehenge People: An Exploration of Life in Neolithic Britain, 4700-2000 BC. Routledge. 
8. Crawford, Osbert (1953).Archaeology in the Field. London: Phoenix House. p. 7.
9. Wright (1971: 16)
10. Cartwright, Julia (1911).The Pilgrims' Way: From Winchester to Canterbury. London: John Murray. p. 5. OCLC 559472322.
11. Hooper, Wilfrid (1936)."The Pilgrims' Way and its supposed pilgrim use" (PDF).Surrey Archaeological Collections.44. Guildford: Surrey Archaeological Society: 53.A Pipe Roll record for the hire of horses for the King's escort to London is extant.
12. Finch, William Coles (1925).In Kentish pilgrim land, its ancient roads and shrines. London: Charles William Daniel. 
13. Elliston-Erwood, F.C. (1925)."The "Pilgrim's Way" its antiquity and its alleged Mediæval Use" (PDF).Archaeologia Cantiana.37:1–20.
14. Hooper (1936) 44 "In their train have followed the host of guide-books and popular writers who have expanded and embellishedad libitumas fancy prompted".
15. James, Edward Renouard (1871).Notes on the Pilgrims Way in West Surrey. London: Edward Stanford. 
16. Belloc, Hilaire (1904).The Old Road. London: John Constable.
17. Parker, Eric (1947). "The Pilgrims Way".Surrey. London: Hale.
18. Owen, Tim; Pilbeam, Elaine (1992).Ordnance Survey. Southampton, England: Ordnance Survey. p. 64
19. Ordnance Survey (1957).172 Chatham & Maidstone(Map). 1:63360. Chessington, England.
20. Hauser, Kitty (2007). "From Pilgrims' Way to the railway".Shadow Sites: Photography, Archaeology, and the British Landscape, 1927-1955. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. pp. 256–261.ISBN978-0-19-920632-2.
21. Wright (1971: 134)
22. Malden, Henry Elliot, ed. (1902).A history of the County of Surrey. Vol. 3. London: Constable. pp. 229–245.OCLC2979914.
23. Cartwright 1911: pp 147–149
24. North Downs Way National Trail. Page archived (as at 2012-07-28) from the Ramblers' Association, accessed 2013-04-29

External links

• North Downs Way, Countryside Agency
• Pilgrims Way, by Canterbury-Cathedral.org

Categories:

• Ancient trackways in England
• History of Kent
• History of Surrey
• History of Ashford, Kent
• City of Canterbury
• Archaeological sites in Hampshire
• Archaeological sites in Kent
• Pilgrimage routes

The Hog's Back

is a hilly ridge, part of theNorth DownsinSurrey, England. It runs betweenFarnhamin the west andGuildfordin the east.

Toponym

Compared with the main part of the Downs to the east of it, it is a narrow elongated ridge, hence its name.

Jane Austen, in a letter to her sister Cassandra dated Thursday 20 May 1813 from her brother's house in Sloane Street, wrote of her journey to London in acurriclevia "the Hog's-back"

"Upon the whole it was an excellent journey & very thoroughly enjoyed by me; the weather was delightful the greatest part of the day. ... I never saw the country from the Hogsback so advantageously."[1]

This shows that it was known as the Hog's Back by Jane Austen's time. However, the medieval name for the ridge wasGuildown(recorded first in 1035 where it was the site of the abduction ofPrince AlfredofWessexbyEarl Godwinand then in thePipe Rollsfor 1190 and onwards) but this name is no longer in use. However, the name Guildown is evoked by Guildown Road, a residential road that climbs the southern side of the ridge on the southwestern fringes of Guildford.

The Guild- element of Guildown is the same as that found in Guildford, meaning "gold". Various explanations have been suggested for the relationship between the names of Guildown and Guildford. Guildown may be an abbreviation of Guildford Down ("the Down by Guildford"). The Hog's Back ends at Guildford, which is the point where theRiver Weycuts through the North Downs. Alternatively, both Guildown and Guildford may derive independently from a gold-coloured feature; either the yellow flowers of the marsh marigold or the gold-coloured (sandy) soil of the hillside.^[1][2]

Geology

The Hog's Back is formed ofchalkofCretaceousage, laid down in shallow seas from the deposition of the calcium carbonate skeletons ofmicro-organisms. The Hog's Back is the surface representation of amonoclinalfold, where once horizontal chalk beds have been folded into steeply sloping layers. Across much of the North Downs, the angle of the chalk as it disappears below the surface is relatively shallow (c. 18° nearDorking), however at the Hog's Back, local faulting has produced a much steeper angle (up to 55°).^[3]To the north of the ridge lies theLondon Clay, and to the south the clays of theWealden Group. The chalk is more resistant to weathering than the flanking clays, leading to the ridge's prominence over the surrounding terrain.^[4]

The Hog's Back gives its name to the geomorphologicallandformknown as aHogback, which is a long narrow ridge or series of hills with a narrow crest and steep slopes of nearly equal inclination on both flanks.^[5]

Geography

The Hog's Back seen from theNorth Downs WayatPuttenham.

The Hog's Back has a minimum prominence (drop) of 55 metres (180 ft), reaching 154 m (505 ft) above sea level, the 24th highest hill in Surrey.^[6]

Along its course are half panoramas north and south separated by less than 100 m (330 ft) viewable from paths alongside the road which runs along the Hog's Back (theA31).

The view north includes many towns and villages, includingWoking,AshandAldershotwhich on a clear day reaches to London, as far asCanary Wharf,Tower 42,The Gherkin,Wembley ArchandHeathrow Airport. The view to the south is unspoilt and has been designated anarea of outstanding natural beautyas well as asite of special scientific interest. These views extend to Hindhead and theDevil's Punchbowl.

History

The route along the Hog's Back is ancient, since its raised position offered travellers a vantage point and also kept them above the thickancient woodlandof the valleys on either side. It was part of the ancient ridgeway which runs from Wiltshire down to the east coast of Kent. The Hog's Back might have been"theVia Regiaof early deeds and Hundred Rolls".^[7]

The road is part of the highway fromLondontoWinchester. Although there is very little archaeological evidence in support, it has been suggested that a Roman road ran from London to Winchester and that, at this point, it passed, either over the Hog's Back or perhaps a little to the north (e.g.Roman Surrey, David Bird, 2004). Research on this is continuing.

The original A31 along the Hog's Back originally formed part of a road leading directly fromWinchesterintoGuildfordHigh Street and from there into London. However, the modern A31 adopts a slightly less direct and less steep approach to the High Street, and reorganisation of central Guildford into a roundabout road system centred on the Friary Centre (named after the medieval Dominican Friary there) has also broken up this direct stretch of road at the point that it reaches Guildford, where it ends at the junction with the A3.

When the idea of thePilgrims' WaytoCanterburywas popularised in the nineteenth century, a route over the southern slopes of the Hog's back, parallel with the ridgeway and running throughSealeandPuttenham, was incorporated in its course. In order to avoid the A31, however, the Pilgrims' Way does not run along the top of the Hog's Back.

The Hog's Back stretch of the A31 is now a dual carriageway, but the two directions of the road are separated by a central area of trees, some of them very old. The original road ran along the stretch now occupied by the lanes running fromGuildfordtoFarnham, i.e. from east to west. The other two lanes, running from west to east, which are a little below the high point occupied by the original carriageways, were added in the early 1970s.

Archaeology

Roughly midway along the ridge of the Hog’s Back betweenFarnhamandGuildford(OS grid reference SU911483^[8]), the human remains of at least six skeletons were discovered in 1935 when ground was being dug for a new water pipe.^[9]They were buried less than a yard from the then-northern edge of the road (now part of the central grass verge between the two carriageways).^[9]One of them was buried prone and another showed signs of having originally been bound or trussed, and scholars now believe that they were criminals buried here after execution at different times over an extended period (Reynolds in 2005; Briggs in 2010).^[9]

Their burial place was at the meeting point of the parishes ofWanborough,Seale(originallyFarnham) andPuttenham, which were each in the differenthundredsofWoking,FarnhamandGodalmingrespectively.^[9]It is suggested by Rob Briggs that an elevated site at the junction of different hundreds and parishes was probably a site of general assembly and he identifies it with the place name Seven Ditches, found in the charter of KingCaedwallaofWessexconfirming Farnham to the Bishop ofWinchester(following the original grant by KingEdward the Elderin 909 AD) (Latinvii dica); and also in afeoffmentdefining the Shoelands estate in about 1210 (Latin“Seuedic”); and also in the plea rolls of the 1263 Surrey Eyre, noting the hanging of one Robert de la Felde ofSendat (Latin)“Seinedik”, translated Sendike or Seven Ditches.^[9]

Notable buildings

On the north side of the Hog's Back near the turn off to the village of Seale formerly stood a mansion known as Poyle Hill Lodge. This was once one of the Admiralty semaphore stations because of its high vantage point. In 1935 it became the Hog's Back Hotel, initially owned by the Guildford Friary Brewery,^[10]and it remains a hotel, now officially known as the Hog's Back Hotel and Spa, Farnham.

On the south side of the Hog's Back, a little to the east of Poyle Hill, another large mansion was built in 1873 called Great Down, attributed toRobert Kerr. This was demolished in about 1950, but the parkland and other associated buildings, such as a lodge and stables, remain.

Also on the south side is Greyfriars House, aGrade II* listedArts and Craftsstyle mansion built in 1896 by the renowned architectCharles Voysey.^[11]It is now a boutique wedding venue.^[12]

TheHogs Back Breweryis an independent real ale brewery based inTongham, which is a village just below the Hog's Back.

The Hog's Back Cafe is in a layby on the Guildford to Farnham (westbound) carriageway of the A31 along the Hog's Back, between the turn offs to Puttenham andSeale. It is popular with lorry drivers, who use the cafe and toilets during the day. The hillside adjacent to the A31 layby was a popular site fordogging(viewing or participating in sexual relations in a public place), but recently (2012–13) Guildford police and local residents are curbing these practices.^[13]

Towards Guildford, on the northeast side of the Hog’s Back, lie Down Place and Blackwell Farm. The manor of Down Place was demolished in 1963,^[14]all that remains today of the estate are the stables where is establishedHogs Back Books, the children’s book publisher.
Once associated with the manor as one of the firstmodel farmin Surrey,^[15]Blackwell Farmis now a place of controversies since the University of Surrey, its owner, announced its plan to build a "Garden Neighbourhood" as part of Guildford Borough Council's local plan consultation.^[16]

1. E. Ekwall (1960).The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names(4th ed.).Guildford and Hog's Back
2. A. D. Mills (1995) [1st imprint 1991].A Dictionary of English Place Names.Guildford and Hog's Back
3. Lake RD, Shephard-Thorn ER (1985). "The stratigraphy and geological structure of the Hog's Back, Surrey and adjoining areas".Proceedings of the Geologists' Association.96(1):7–21.doi:10.1016/S0016-7878(85)80011-0.
4. "British Geological Survey, England and Wales Sheet 285, Guildford" .www.largeimages.bgs.ac.uk. 2001. Retrieved20 April2017.
5. Huggett, JR (2011)Fundamentals of Geomorphology,3rd ed., Routledge, New York. 516 pp.ISBN978-0415567756
6. Database of British and Irish Hills Retrieved 2015-03-06
7. Victoria County History of Surrey. Vol. 3. s.v. Wanborough. 1911. p. 374.
8. "OS grid reference SU911483 on Streetmaps". Retrieved21 January2011.
9. Briggs, Rob (October 2010). "Six Skeletons at Seven Ditches".Bulletin 423; Surrey Archaeological Society:6–9.
10. Holmes, Thomas William (1983).The Semaphore. p. 201.
11. Historic England."Greyfriars, Wanborough, Hog's Back (1029612)".National Heritage List for England.
12. "Greyfriars House". Retrieved1 August2020.
13. Lyall, Sarah (7 October 2010)."Here's the Pub, Church and Field for Public Sex". The New York Times.
14. Gorton, Philip (2005).Notes on the history of Blackwell House.Compton, Surrey(Technical report). Domestic Building Research Group.
15. Nicholas, Roger (2008).The Diaries of Henry Peak. p. 94.
16. Watkins, James (6 December 2013). "Hog's Back group 'staggered' by scale of university homes plan". Surrey Advertiser.
17. Freeman Wills Crofts. (16 October 2000).The Hog's Back Mystery.

The Limestone Link is a 36 miles (58 km)long-distance footpath from the Mendip Hills in Somerset to Cold Ashton in Gloucestershire. It is marked by an Ammonite way marker.

The Mendip section starts between Churchill and Rowberrow, near Dolebury Warren and passes, roughly west to east, above the villages of Blagdon and Compton Martin close to the northern boundary of the Mendip Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and passes through West Harptree. It then passes through Temple Cloud, Hallatrow and Durcott before turning north through Dunkerton and South stoke, south of Bath.

The path then followsCam Brook to Midford and then along Midford Brook before joining the Avon Walkway at the Dundas Aqueduct going north alongside

the River Avon and the Kennet and Avon Canal past Claverton and the Claverton Pumping Station to Bathampton where it crosses the A4and goes through Batheaston and then following a small river through Northend and St Catherine. The final part of the path goes past Monkswood reservoir and alongside St Catherines Brook to Cold Ashton.

It connects with the Mendip Way, and the Cotswold Way.

                                                                                                                                        A Saxon Herepath

it is from a military and strategic point of view that Cynwith ford and passage give their chief interest, especially to the student of our ancient annals, under the Anglo-Saxon Kings. Most people have been under the impression that the Brug or Bridge of Walter de Douai (Bridgewater) was the first and greatest passage over the Parret. This is not the case. The Cynwith ford and passage bisects the most ancient military road in the West running from Bristol to Exmoor and so to Barnstaple and North Devon. If once an invader held permanent command here he could follow this “ Herepath ” or military road over the ridges of the Quantocks and threaten the Vale of Taunton: or, he could follow it to Brendon and so threaten Watchet, Minehead, and Porlock. In fact his control would be over all sea approaches and also land attacks. No wonder Cynwith was a disputed point and battles were continually fought at the Parret mouth. “ Cynwith Castle ” to the west of the ford and passage is also a notable feature to this day and the term “ Castle ” is still found on the Cannington Tithe Map. (See Preface for Dr. Clifford’s theory). In the Danish campaign of 878 many writers have placed Cynwith Castle near Bideford; also, they have supposed that the Danes launched their attack upon Alfred’s base at Athelney from Demetia, narrowing this geographical term to Pembroke and Milford Haven. This extraordinary view of the course of military events has only to be stated to show its irrelevancy and absurdity. Granted that the Danes landed near Westward Ho! of what use would this have been with fifty miles of forest and rough country between them and Athelney. Nor were there monastic “ spolia opima ” to be won here resembling the prizes around Glaston and in the Valley of the Parret, a tidal river, which took them up to the very heart of Somerset. Some, again, have thought that the Danes might have landed at Countisbury where Devon and Somerset meet. But there was never a landing-place here and the strategy here would have been futile. The writer has passed these Bridgwater and the Mouth of the Parret From a Cottonian MS, temp. Hen, VIII, theories in review in a work on “ The Battle of Edington ” (The Wessex Press, Taunton) and it is hardly necessary to repeat the arguments. The geographical and strategic difficulties disappear if under “ Demetica regio ” we include Glamorgan and possibly Monmouth, and under Dumnonia we include West Somerset as far east as the Parret. Let us turn to a description of the Saxon Herepath which will throw much more light upon the whole strategy both of Danes and of King Alfred. Beginning with Bristol it may be noted that Collinson noted more than 130 years ago that a Saxon Herepath or military road entered the Hundred of Hareclive,1 adding that in the vicinity there was a road called “ Hare lane.” Not far off was the wansdike, leading from Wiltshire to a Severn port, a subject duly investigated by that able antiquary Sir Richard C. Hoare (“ Roman Roads,” by T. Codrington). But the Harepath goes westward at right angles to the Wansdike leaving it near Dundry and Maes Knoll, about five miles south of Bristol. At Wrington, ten miles south-west of Bristol, the late Prebendary Scarth identified a fragment of a Roman road on his glebe, forming a section of the old Bristol-Bridgwater line of communication.

This he prized greatly as a genuine relic and Mr. Scarth was a good judge of Roman antiquities. In company with the late Mr. J. H. Parker, c.b., the great investigator of Roman roads and Roman buildings at Rome itself, he advanced a theory of Roman communications in the neighbourhood of Taunton and Bridgwater (1872). At Great Wimberham signs of Roman occupation have been discovered in the shape of a villa with tesselated pavements close to the river Yeo.8 The use of the Latin “ portus ” (Welsh Porth), as in Portbury and Portishead, may show Severn ports in Roman times. When King Alfred gave Banwell and Congresbury, close to the Yeo, to Bishop Asser, it is possible that the Bishop himself may have used a very ancient passage from Porth Ceri. The Herepath approaches the Mendips and passes close under Dolebury Camp, through a narrow gorge. The opportunities for inland defence here are obvious even supposing an enemy had been able to dominate the Cadbury forts—also, it crosses the head waters of the Yeo. Thence to Axbridge and Overweare, a place of importance on the upper Axe and formerly a landing-place and dignified as a Borough, sending M.P.’s to London. From Overweare the Herepath skirts the south and west of Brent Knoll, that most commanding position visible far down channel. Brent Knoll was called a “ Castellarium ” up to the twelfth century as we gather from Glastonbury records. When the Herepath, passing along Hunt spill, reaches Paulet Church a branch road on the left goes to the Polden ridge and to Downend where on Saxton’s map (1579) appears a place called “ Chiese Chettle of ye Mount,” a phrase not readily explained ; also called “ Chislev Mount.”  A place name Chisletts still exists, a marsh of thirty acres, close by.
Elsewhere the place is called the “ Burgh de Capite Montis,” probably a Saxon Burgh to begin with. In the Pipe Rolls it is recorded that the Columbers family of Nether Stowey had a “ Burghriht ” there. Field names still preserve the existence of a “ Burgh ” and “ Bally Field ” recalls the idea of a “ Ballium.” An extract from a “ Complete History of Somerset,” Sherborne, 1742, is as follows : “ Chidley Mount. The Lordship of William de Brewiere given him by King John, but afterwards of William de Montacute the son of Dru (Drogo). Some Roman coins have been found in that town, which is an argument not only of its antiquity, but of the truth of the common saying that it was once a large Town and out of it sprang the Town of Bridgwater which stands opposite to it on the other side of the Parish.” In the Placita de Quo of Edward I, John de Columbers has free warren in Woolavington, assize of bread in Burgo de Nether Stowey; in Puriton, Pillory and Tumbrel in hamlet of Chedesmunt, called also Chefdelmunt elsewhere. The place-names “ Burrow ” or “ Borough Mead,” “ Castle Land,” Outer and Inner Island still survive, also “ Salt-wharf ” and “ Horsey,” i.e. Horse Island. The question is, was this the fort below Edington, on the Polden ridge above, at which Guthrum was besieged and where he finally surrendered to King Alfred. It certainly fits in with events as described. “ Horsey ” or the horse island might have been the place where the Danes at Vikings Pill,
close by, might have tethered and fed their horses for their predatory rides. There was a spring of water on the site of the fort but if Alfred had defeated them they were trapped and even the Parret could not assist their escape after the battle of Cynuit or Cumwich Castle. Besides, King Alfred could check all attempts at disembarking from the castle or fort. In Archceologia (April, 1801) there are further proofs of the “ mount’s ” importance and as a place around which as a meeting-place and junction of lines of communication, armies would fight. There exist indications that the Poldens may have been occupied by the Romans. The late Mr. Ruscombe Poole, of Bridgwater, a keen antiquary, hazarded the conjecture that the Romans may have had a settlement at the Polden Edington from the fact of a discovery there of a tesselated pavement of Roman design together with other relics of coins and clay moulds.

This is an extremely interesting problem in and by itself and the mere fact of Roman occupation here may throw light upon the Polden road itself and the original (possibly) of the Saxon Herepath. In former days both Gaunt’s Hospital and the Abbey of St. Augustine had lands at Paulet and in the Gaunt’s Hospital records, preserved amongst the Braikenridge MSS. at the Taunton Museum, there are some useful and significant topographical allusions (1403). First and foremost “ Viking’s Pill ” is frequently mentioned and although this place-name has disappeared to-day it is worth remembering that the term, when used, must have dated back some five hundred years. Here was certainly a post of the Vikings on the Parret, previously unnoticed, but it throws a flood of light upon the Danish campaign, especially if we think of Viking’s Pill existing at the same time and in close proximity to Cynwith or Comwich just below. “ Gauntsham ” is another place-name reproduced on Bowen’s map in 1722. In the Paulet Tithe map is the following entry about the Abbey lands of St. Augustine, Bristol: “ Adjoining the Abbey lands are 150 acres or thereabouts which have accumulated and been gained in consequence of the River Parret, which bounds this Parish on the West, having shifted its bed and receded westward.” It is possible that “ Viking’s Pill ” as a place-name has been lost sight of in this change of current. In the Gaunt’s Hospital records there are also allusions to roads in Paulet. One is called “ Via alta et regalis,” another “ Commune calcetum apud Poulet vocatum calcetum de Comwich,” which may have been applied to the Saxon Herepath itself and prove that it was a made road, ancient in 1403, and very different from such a road as led, for instance, to Bridgwater from Cranebridge at the foot of Polden, so often described as in a foundrous and rotten state. As late as 1608 we learn from Somerset Quarter Session Reports that the Causeway between the East Gate of Bridgwater and Crane bridge had fallen into decay. This causeway, therefore, could never have competed with the Comwich Herepath as a western main route. It linked, doubtless, with the old track way from Bridgwater to Buncombe Hill. The width of the Herepath, sixty feet throughout, gives the clue throughout to its paramount importance as the main artery. The westward section of the Saxon Herepath is, if possible, more interesting than the eastern, more proofs and place names attesting to its course along the Brendon ridges and towards Exmoor and Exford where the name itself “ Herepath ” occurs as a present-day descriptive term. At Cannington and Comwich, the old Manor of Rodway or Radway, already mentioned as an early membrum of the Stoke Courcy Barony, is a sufficient indication of this important “ Roadway.” The way is still there for all to see, especially on the west side of Cannington Knoll. The camp or old British fortification here is still surrounded by loose stone walling and
its physical features are much the same as those assigned by Bishop Asser to “ Arx Cynuit.” There is no water there and below it is St. Michael’s Well at some distance off. The old roadway must have echoed with that conflict between the Danes and the Dumnonian levies on that notable day. The river Parret with its tidal flow seems to have separated the Danish forces, part of which were at Viking’s Pill on the Paulet
or eastern side of the river. The conflict might have been

even witnessed but no help could be given and so Odda and his Dumnonian levies triumphed and twelve hundred Danes were slain. (See Preface). Presently, after leaving Cannington Knoll and the “ Castle,”
still found on the modern tithe map, the Herepath passes "Oteley Oak,” a notable tree of great dimensions formerly, which may have existed a thousand years ago. Not long ago its hollow bole was so large that it was used as a calf-pen and sometimes the rustic folk in summer time would foregather there and use it as a shelter wherein to devour their “ nuncion ” or midday meal of cheese and cider. Thence the road went
past Swang Gorse, a notable fox cover, and so westwards until it reached Keenthorn. Upon it is built a blacksmith’s shop where it is said the forge sands in one parish and the black smith’s dwelling-house in another. In Smallcombe, near Radstock, a cottage built on the cross-way between Bath and Ilchester is freehold, and is said to be the only freehold in the hamlet. Sir R. C. Hoare has also noticed that a cottage
built upon the Roman road at Forest Gate was freehold.”1 From Keenthorne the Herepath gradually ascends the slope towards Over Stowey and the adjoining Quantock ridges. It passes close by Over Stowey Church and a field called “ Castle Ground.” At this particular point we are able to adduce documentary evidence of its existence dating back to the twelfth century. In the Gaunt’s Hospital records a certain Hugh de Bonvile gives to the Church of Over Stowey a wood and pasture from Stowey Herepath near the old castle “ to a Cross at Solmere’s head ” (a Staweye harpod juxta vetus Castellarium). There are at least three distinct references to the Herepath. The old castle was so called to distinguish it from the newer fortat Castle Hill in Nether Stowey, just below, built by the holders of the Stowey Barony about this time (1100-1200), probably the de Candos family. The Church of Over Stowey and the original castle were in very close proximity, as the deeds show in a most minute and particular way. The Herepath ascended the Quantocks and is again alluded to in a separate "Roman Roads" by T. Codrington pp. 263 and 336. J, Stoke Courcy document preserved at Eton College in which the same Hugh de Bonvile, presumably, gave to the Church of St. Andrew of Stoke Courci for the sustentation of the monks and in augmentation of former gifts, part of his wood and pasture on Quantock on the west side of the wood he had given to the Church of St. Peter of Over Stowey extending from the bounds which John Chaunol had placed in the said wood between the great road of Solmere on the lower part and the great road called Staw Herepat on the upper part to the head of Ramscombe.1 This most precise and exact definition of the Stowey Here path is of great value not only in determining its direction, which is fairly obvious to-day and corresponding to what is called the Stowey Road on the ridge of Quantock, but also in giving us a hint as to its original and especial character. According to the charter there were two roads both “ great ” ; the Solmere road running up the combe or valley of “ Seven Wells ” and “ Ramscombe ” and used within the memory of man as a thoroughfare, and the Herepath keeping along the ridge, almost parallel with the road below and meeting it at what is known as Crowcombe Gate. This indicates its special military character and the important point is here brought out that this Saxon Herepath is distinct from the publica via of the combe below in so far as it is a parish boundary and therefore of greater age. Its military character is further
emphasised by the fact that it originally ran within a stone’s throw of the Over-Stowey “ vetus castellarium ” and also that it passed close to the southern slope of Danesborough or Dousboro Castle, the old fort and encampment guarding the northern flanks of these hills from sea and Severn invasion. A visit to Dousboro Castle would at once prove the strategic importance of this Herepath from the Parret and Cannington Knoll below, the general line of it being traceable. The Stowey Herepath is linked with Dousboro Castle by a path skirting the top of Bincombe and known as " Great Bear path " which evidently must be a local variation of the “ Great Herepath ” itself. Beyond are two adjacent rises in the Quantock Hills called Great and Little Hereknaps, preserving the “ Here ” as in Hareclive near Bristol. “ Tent Ground ” is a place-name close by, so is “ Robin Upright,” which is more of an etymological puzzle.

The ridges of Quantock, however, stand out as a kind of frontier bulwark against sea and Severn invasion. From Dousboro the very raison d’etre of the Herepath with its course visible for so many miles over flat and river, as far back as Brent Knoll, can be seen and appreciated almost at a glance. Westward, for thirty miles or more, the final stage of the Herepath, still so named from the Brendons to Cutcombe and Exmoor, the line can be picked up along such a point as the Elworthy Barrows. The Herepath is a parish boundary on the Quantocks and, indeed, along its whole course. At Crowcombe Gate the perambulators of Kilve parish, where an angle of the boundary comes, were always careful to notice that the boundary itself was measured from the bank not the centre of the road as one might suppose. Here as elsewhere the width of sixty feet seems to be strictly observed, a great proof of the oneness and continuity of the Herepath. The chance that brought the Herepath close to Over Stowey Church deserves some explanation as it raises a question of local history. As may already be imagined the original line of the Herepath, itself the boundary of Christian parishes, was not guided by church consideration at all. The fort rather than the church is the landmark. In the case of Over Stowey the fort probably existed before the church. In the Gaunt’s Hospital documents, above alluded to, the site of “ Castle Ground,” close to St. Peter’s well, is called “ Crogh Stokke,” the “ Crogh ” meaning hill and “ Stokke ” referring to astockaded or palisaded place, the expression meaning a stockaded hill-fort. Probably the site was occupied in very early times by a chieftain or “ headman ” of the Quantocks who listened to the preaching of a Christian missionary, either Irish or Welsh, and encouraged the building of a primitive church on the site itself. The dedication of the church, i.e. saints, Peter and Paul, is a very old one. In the Parret Valley tradition has it that, as a consequence of the proximity of Glaston, both St. Patrick and St. Bridget were well known either by fame or in person. It is possible that “ Crogh Stokke ” just helps to lift the curtain from a very remote period. This Manor of Stowey was held at Domesday by Count Harold himself, as a stronghold and as a royal manor. Indeed, Ethelred had given Adscombe in Seven Wells Combe to the Abbey of Athelney, a possession held by the monks up to the date of the dissolution. Such may be some of the little “ flores historiarum ” we may gather by the way. To return to the “ Herepath ” on the Quantocks we find that after keeping to the ridge, known as the Stowey Road, on the south side of Danesboro it comes to Crowcombe Gate and takes rather a sharp turn to the south-east along a wide drove between banks surmounted on either side by beech hedges.

Near Crowcombe Gate is the old signalling post known as “ Fire beacon hill ” and in the vicinity of the gate
itself, through which a path and road descends to the west, is a spot of ground called “ No man’s land,” lying, so it is said, in no parish. The space occupied by the Herepath also seems to be extra-parochial, the road forming certainly a boundary on this side and on that, but the space occupied by it being neutral and reserved. This fact may carry its own secret with it, viz. that the broad military “ Via ” was looked upon as a public institution in and by itself, falling under the ancient obligations of the “ trinoda necessitas.” The castles in remote Saxon times would mean such fortified and palisaded local positions as we have already indicated along the line of the Herepath such as Brent Knoll and Dousboro itself. Norman castles and rectangular forts of masonry came later as the Norman fort of Nether Stowey shows in contrast to the vetus castellarium or Crogh Stokke of Over Stowey. It must be noted that the Quantock Herepath turns inland from Crowcombe Gate and runs as far as Triscombe and to the slopes of Bagborough or the old Beacon Borough. Just as “ Fire Beacon ” commanded from Crowcombe hill a wide and extensive view westward so Bagborough hill or “ Wills- neck,” as it is locally called, commanded a wide view southward over Taunton and over North Petherton and the Valleys of the Tone and Parret. In times of unusual floods up to the present day, as can be inferred from what has been already stated, the levels round Durston Station and below it present the aspect of an inland lake. The Quantock ridges, broadly speaking, are a protecting arm of high lands, running up to the height of about a thousand feet, interposed between the Severn waters and the Petherton levels. There was certainly a “ Portway ” between Watchet and the lower Parret leading over Staple Plain and West Quantockshead down to Holford, Stringston and so to Stoke Courcy and the name still survives, as has already been pointed out, but this portway was of no use as a “ via maritima ” that could be defended. It was too near the sea. After the Norman Conquest, when William of Falaise built a castle at Stoke Courcy the object of this fortress was to guard Stolford and the old “ Botestall ” or anchorage at the mouth of the Parret, but this was not thescheme of Saxon coastal defence to begin with as contrasted with Norman defence. (See Chapter VII).
The Saxon Herepath at Triscombe furnished a boundary between the parishes of Bagborough and Crowcombe and descended the western slope of the Quantocks not far from the “Blue Ball” and Triscombe Stone. This stone itself would appear to mark a comparatively recent ascent, not the old junction. The width of the drove above, another sign of the “ Herepath,” ceases just here and a subsidiary road or path goes on above Aisholt parish in the direction of Buncombe Hill and Broomfield parish where another little Quantock stronghold, already alluded to and known as Roborough Camp, (called a Castellum in the Hundred Rolls), existed further inland in a somewhat inaccessible and woody comer of the Quantock hills. No doubt this little stronghold entered into the scheme of Saxon defence, as it was attached to the distant capital of Somerton and was part of Saxon Royal demesne. But the road it commanded was of minor importance and always figured as a packway descending from Buncombe Hill to Bridge (Bridgwater) and the Parret.
It is a little significant that according to the terms of an old Bagborough document, defining Quantock boundaries, a portion of the road from Triscombe to Buncombe is called " Alferode ” in the fourteenth century. The name is lost now but is it possible that it was so called from King Alfred as it certainly formed a connecting link between the herepath at Triscombe and the parishes of Broomfield and so to Petherton and Athelney below. As long as King Alfred could hold the Quantock Herepath running from Cynwith or Cymwith Castle on the Lower Parret and so over the ridge of Quantock he had a well-protected base for his Athelney defence. If we could be quite sure about the origin of this “ Alferode ” we could at once detect and follow some scheme of Athelney defence against the Danes in which the ridges and combes of the Quantocks played an important part. There are numerous traditions of battles and encounters: there is “ Dead men,” the name of a field in Over Stowey parish, close to Denes Park (Aley Park), where so much blood was spilt that it flowed out of the gate “ up to the second shuttle.” After Triscombe the Herepath descends the south-western side of the Quantocks, following pretty closely the boundaries
of the Crowcombe and Bagborough and then Lydeard St. Lawrence parishes. Several very ancient place-names still survive here below Triscombe. “ Long thorn ” is one of them, called “ Spina longa ” in Ethelwulf’s Charter enlarging the boundaries of Taunton Manor: “ White Moor,” called " Alba gronna ” in the same charter is another example. The presumption is that this section of the Herepath, as far as Willet, was used as a line of demarcation by King Ethelwulf in 854, the date of the charter. If we trace this section to-day the Herepath is distinguishable by its width of sixty feet past Red Post to the Railway: thence to the right, along “ Binford’s Lane.” At the west end of Binford’s Lane the track is lost or rather reduced to the dimensions of a narrowed pathway, with hedges on either side, for a field or two till it emerges at “ Dean’s Lane ” and is continued along it to Coleford water, descending from Willet to Stogumber parish. Thence past Cutborough Copse to Cat’s Castle and so to Elworthy Barrows across the Wiveliscombe via Monksilver
road. Just here it is possible that another military road from Exeter, Wellington, Badialton, Wiveliscombe can be detected. Stogumber was an important Royal Saxon posession at Domesday and here Collinson notes Roman coins have been found. “ Turk’s Castle ” in Bicknoller may have been reckoned as a Stogumber fort.

There are two good places at least where to view this Herepath, after it leaves Triscombe and goes westward, one at " Red Post ” where it cuts across the present Taunton road and serves as a boundary between Crowcombe and Lydeard St. Lawrence: another where it ascends the Brendon Hills at Elworthy Barrows, a fine signal station in ancient days and mentioned as an observation point and rallying place in case of French invasion temp. Henry VIII.1 At Red Post the most obvious characteristic that meets the eye is its width of sixty feet, with the signalling station of Bagborough hill above, and, if we follow the road on we shall find that it is an unfailing feature except where it has been encroached upon by parallel wayside banks and enclosures for gardens, etc. Elworthy Barrows is a remarkable feature as the Brendon stronghold
and Elworthy itself looks like a Saxon compound meaning the old “worth.” St. David’s Well, just here, points to a very old dedication and with Willet itself it would not be irrelevant to associate the “ Waelas ” or Welsh folk. Freeman himself supposes that there was a fight on the Quantocks and at Wills neck (Waelas Nek) whereby the invading Saxons forced the Lidyard or gate of the valley lying between the Quantocks
and Brendon and going down to Williton (Waelas Ton) and Watchet. This seems extremely probable and Grab barrows near Williton may be the site of a Saxon-British fight not necessarily Saxon-Danish. The old military terrain is best illustrated and explained by this Herepath that linked Quantock and Brendon defence against an enemy. More plainly here than elsewhere its function as a coast defence road appears and it was laid out originally with this object. The signalling stations give the line. In case of a rally and of “ impeaching an enemy’s landing ” the levies both horse and foot would be rushed along the broad Herepath wherever they were wanted. Pack-lanes were out of the question as furnishing a marching route, although pack-lanes might be feeders, as, indeed, many of them were. To this day they can be traced in large numbers,although many of them are now simply deep and picturesque old lanes, not unlike mere ditches covered on either side with ferns and wild flowers. The Herepath as an arterial road always kept to the hard ridges if possible. It was so on the Stowey road and it is so on the Brendon Hills, also on the ridge running from Bushel Bridge, Oldre Farm towards Exford. On Brendon the Herepath passes close to Raleigh’s Cross, serving here as a parish boundary. The view seaward from Raleigh’s Cross shows the little harbour of Watchet below (so often visited by the Danes and occupied by them as “ Danes Castle ” to the west of it seems to indicate) together with the windings of the Severn Sea far up to the east. The value of the Herepath on the inland height is apparent.

The Danes or any other enemy from the sea might land at Watchet but, inland, they could not make much progress. Swift mobilisation along the Herepath, which was too far from the channel to be cut easily, would meet their forays. The alarm would spread from beacon to beacon, from Brent Knoll to Dunkery, from the Poldens to Exmoor. As the Herepath ran in a circum-circular fashion from the Quantock to the Exmoor country it would facilitate a flank attack from east or west and place the invading force at a disadvantage. It is possible that the Danes, for instance, reached the Brendons near Raleigh’s Cross, as there are place-names, such as Danesknap (already noted) above Nettlecombe, appear to testify, but they never got far inland. Taunton seems always to have been free from their ravages and it is possible that this immunity was secured by the Great Stowey Herepath. Nor, if they never penetrated far behind Watchet, did they go far on Exmoor and Dunkery behind Porlock, owing to the same protection. The last section of the Herepath, following its line westward towards Exmoor, is interesting to us not only because it carries out the original conception of a coast-defence military route from Bristowa keeping along the ridges, wherever possible, and linking forts and earthworks together, but because here, as the country grows wilder and less closely cultivated, it reverts to its original character and dimensions for considerable distances. Indeed, as already noted, the name Herepath, as a parish boundary, continues to the present day and on Brendon itself there is a “ Hareolive ” which reminds us of the Hundred of that name close to Bristows where it started. Perhaps the best place to view this part of the Herepath is at Bushel Bridge, on the borders of Cutcombe parish. To-day it is a most picturesque lane arched over with hazel trees inviting a contemplative stroll on a summer’s day. What memories it must surely invoke of past ages! What pictures of warlike hosts faring backwards and forwards as a coast alarm spread, say, from Minehead
Beacon or Cleeve Hill up to Brendon and the Quantocks. Or tall Brent Knoll far to the east may have given the first hint of a pirates’ rush from the Severn creeks and pills.
One terminus or, perhaps, starting point, if we may so regard it, of this Bristol-Cutcombe Herepath seems to have been some rallying point in or near the old Forest of Exmoor, always a fastness of Ancient Dumnonia. Such a rallying point may have been at Almandeswyrth or Alderman’s Worth, the dwelling of the alderman of those parts, (corrupted now into Almsworthy), on the present Willshead Farm, a very ancient tenement in Exford parish. Alderman’s Barrow is close by. In the 1279 Perambulation of Exmoor we meet with Osmundesberghwey which seems to give us the old name of a possible alderman, called Osmund, as well as the mention of the “ way ” or herepath. About the same date the Vicar of Winsford was given crofts that lay “ on the south side between the king’s highway leading from Winsford-Bosun to Exford.” There is also the suggestive name of Stowey, i.e. “ Stow way ” hereabouts, which reminds us of the Stowey Herepath on the Quantocks and old Stowey on the Brendon Hills—a threefold attestation of a suggestive place-name recurring along the line of the old Herepath. “ Ashway ” in this neighbourhood may also refer to it. Alderman’s Worth lies just outside the limit of the old forest, before its enlargement in King John’s reign. Exmoor itself is, of course, a recently formed parish. Historically, this old Herepath must evoke many memories. The industrious “ florilegist ” may gather many “ flores historiae ” from the moors that fringe the base of the classic Brent Knoll to the wort covered slopes and leafy lanes of Exmoor. It may even be a romantic thread in itself binding the chequered annals of “ Ancient Dumnonia ” together. It is a link between Bristowa and the west. It was flanked by many an early fortress and it passed by many a beacon hill where war’s alarms might be signalled, as at Danesborough and Cothelstone on the Quantocks, Elworthy on the Brendons and the heights that overlooked Watchet and Cleeve Hill. The old road of former days may, indeed, throw into relief the links that bound Watchet and the West Somerset harbours
with old Bristowa. Could it throw light upon the Chatterton mystery and the origin of “ Aella a Tragical Enterlude.” What indeed could have induced Chatterton in this poem to make the great Danish fight take place at Watchet ? How could the boy Chatterton, untravelled as he was, invent a Danish fight at Watchet ? Did he know of this Saxon Herepath westward across the Parret to the Quantocks ? We leave this
mystery for others to solve if they can and we betake ourselves to the bowers and leafy banks of the Saxon Herepath, for this is a reality that speaks eloquently from the past and was never locked away in a Parish Chest.

The “ Dead lane ”

Ancient Roads and Tracks

17

The third ancient ridgeway is that coming from the Quay at Merthen Hole, up through the woods, across the old deer park, where it passes through the ditch of the earthworks, so out over the Downs, across the fields to Brill.

Then to Trewardreva and over the ford (Ret) which gave name to Retallack.

So up the hill along past the site of  Maen Rock , skirting Treworvac , across the fields to the “ Dead lane” , where it proves its antiquity by being a part of the parish boundary, then into the Lestraines lane and out to the Turnpike from Helston to Truro at Rame.

The “ Dead lane ” is a strip of this ridgeway which has not been used for over a century, and is so called because it is now a cul-de-sac.

On either side of it is a tumulus, for barrows, like ancient roads, are found on ridges. It is remarkable that this lane, about three-quarters of a mile in length, is the only piece of road which forms part of the Constantine parish boundary.

All the rest of the boundary is formed by creeks , streams, or, for a very small distance, by hedges .

At Merthen Hole it is a typical pack-horse track cut out of the rock . Its paving stones remain beneath the fields and make ploughing Impossible.

The fourth main ridgeway is the present main road from Penryn, entering the parish near Bossawsack and continuing past High Cross down to the river atCalamansack.

There are two principal tracks across the parish from east to west, 2nd as the lower has to traverse six deep valleys, it affords a good example of the precipitous nature of old roads.This enters the parish from Mawnan at Tregarne Mill, passes the steep hill to Treworval , by what is now a rough lane, continues across the fields to Driff and Treviades, then down past Gwealllin to the creek-head at Polwheveral. This part bore the name Clodgy lane in 1649, a common name in Cornwall, derived, in all zbability, from Clud, a carriage, or perhaps from Clodding, meaning trenched ” or “ embanked5.” At the bottom stood two grist mills, d • Tucking or Fulling Mill. The bridge over the stream was built as appears from the contract between the parish and Roger Urd, a mason, of Tregoney, entered into the old Vestry Book .

It appears to continue on the other side of the river through Tremayne and Henforth ( =Old road ) to St. Martins. ‘, Clodgy lane at Helston. Mr. Henderson later changed his mind, and Came to the conclusion that Clodgy meant a Lazar-house. a copy of this interesting document in the present writer’s Old Cornish Bridges,

ANCIENT ROADS AND TRACKS.

The road system of Constantine is not merely medieval, it is prehistoric. This is not intended to be a criticism of those who have charge of the roads but merely a statement of fact. There are no roads in the parish worth mentioning that have been made in modern times .We have seen that the principal roads leading northwards from the Helford River are ridgeways. The most westerly is still in use as the main road from Gweek to the Helston-Truro road ( itself a ridgeway ) at Buttres Gate. Beyond that it once continued by Stythians, Bissoe and Baidu till it joined the principal ridgeway running along the watershed from one end of Cornwall to the other. This road brought the tin bearing region of Stythians into communication with the port of Gweek. It enters Constantine parish at a place called Ponstreath or Ponstrays , which is possibly a corruption of Penstrase , i.e., Street-end, the word strase or strad being used for a paved way, a relic of the Roman strata . At Carloggas a fortification adjoined it . At Tolvan it was crossed by the principal track leading across the parish, and the meeting place of the roads was doubtless suggested by the presence of the TolvanQuoit2.The second ridgeway from Gweek runs up to Carwythenack Chase, where an earthwork lies on its left hand3. Then it went straight up over the top of Brill hill, to Trevease, passing the stone cross at the ford, and so out to join the other ridgeway at Buttres Gate. This road is only used in its lower part, but it can be traced through the crofts on Brill hill by a double line of hedges.

Ancient Roads and Tracks 17The third ancient ridgeway is that coming from the Quay at Merthen Hole, up through the woods, across the old deer park, where it passes through the ditch of the earthworks, so out over the Downs, across the fields to Brill. Then to Trewardreva and over the ford (Ret) which gave name to Retallack. So up the hill along past the site of Maen Rock, skirting Treworvac, across the fields to the “ Dead lane” , where it proves its antiquity by being a part of the parish boundary, then into the Lestraines lane and out to the Turnpike from Helston to Truro at Rame. The “ Dead lane ” is a strip of this ridgeway which has not been used for over a century, and is so called because It is now a cul-de-sac. On either side of it is a tumulus, for barrows, like ancient roads, are found on ridges. It is remarkable that this lane, about three-quarters of a mile in length, is the only piece of road which forms part of the Constantine parish boundary. All the rest of the boundary is formed by creeks, streams, or, for a very small distance, by hedges. At Merthen Hole it is a typical pack-horse track cut out of the rock. Its paving stones remain beneath the fields and make ploughing Impossible.The fourth main ridgeway is the present main road from Penryn, entering the parish near Bossawsack and continuing past High Cross down to the river atCalamansack. There are two principal tracks across the parish from east to west, 2nd as the lower has to traverse six deep valleys, it affords a good example of the precipitous nature of old roads.This enters the parish from Mawnan at Tregarne Mill, passes the steep hill to Treworval , by what is now a rough lane, continues across the fields to Driff and Treviades, then down past Gwealllin to the creek-head at Polwheveral. This part bore the name Clodgy lane in 1649, a common name in Cornwall, derived, in all zbability, from Clud, a carriage, or perhaps from Clodding, meaning trenched ” or “ embanked5.” At the bottom stood two grist mills, d • Tucking or Fulling Mill. The bridge over the stream was built as appears from the contract between the parish and Roger Urd, a mason, of Tregoney, entered into the old Vestry Book . It appears to continue on the other side of the river through Tremayne and Henforth ( =Old road ) to St. Martins. ‘, Clodgy lane at Helston. Mr. Henderson later changed his mind, and Came to the conclusion that Clodgy meant a Lazar-house. a copy of this interesting document in the present writer’s Old Cornish Bridges,

BRONZE AGE TRACKS
It is believed that the first tracks on Dartmoor were used during the Bronze Age. These were called ridgeways and followed the high ground for the following reasons. Firstly the forest which is believed to have covered Dartmoor at the time was much thinner on the high ground. Secondly. travellers were able to avoid the rivers and marshes on the low lying ground. Thirdly, there was a much better viewpoint from the higher less densely wooded ridges, It is believed that the present Tavistock to Plymouth road follows one of these routes which eventually reach a beach near Sutton Pool in Plymouth.

THE SAXON ROADS
Though the Romans made a number of roads in Devon there is no evidence that there were any Roman roads across Dartmoor. During the Saxon period however which lasted for about six hundred years, farms and villages were settled on the edges of the Moor. Many of the farm lanes and local roads were constructed during this period. The roads twisted and turned* picking their way between the fields, their banks lined with stones which had been removed from the fields. (Many motorists, who are strangers to Devon have found that the pleasant looking, grassy banks at the sides of the roads are really made of granite rocks and many leave with scratches on their shiny new cars).
For this they can blame the Saxon farmers of a thousand years ago. These roads probably only connected different farms to one another and it is not until much later towards the end of the 12th century that towns began to grow* Such
towns as Chagford, Tavistock, Plympton, Okehampton, and Moretonhampstead. People naturally wanted to travel between the towns and it is at this time that many of the
routes linking these towns came into being.
MEDIEVAL ROUTES
The best known of these early (medieval) routes is called The Abbot s Way. The
Abbot's Way ran across the southern part of the moor* from Cross Furzes near
Buckfast Abbey. It was used by people from the towns as well as monks from the
Abbeys and the route was marked by granite crosses or sometimes merely by stones
with initials carved on the sides. The Abbot s Way was used mainly by toot travellers*
though some wealthier people probably rode on horseback and others used packhorses
to carry their goods.
People still walk the Abbot's Way but nowadays it is done for pleasure and is seen
as a challenge. There is no clearly marked path so a compass and a map are necessary
to find the way from one landmark to another* some of the crosses which marked the
original track having disappeared.

The following 27 pages are in this category, out of 27 total.This list may not reflect recent changes.

B

• Beckhampton Avenue
• The Broomway

C

• Coal Road

D

• Dartmoor crosses
• Derbyshire Portway
• Devil's Highway (Roman Britain)
• Dorsetshire Gap

G

• Greater Ridgeway

H

• Harrow Way
• Hatfield neolithic trackway
• Herepath

I

• Icknield Way

K

• Kennet Avenue

L

• Lilla Cross
• Long Causeway

P

• Pilgrims' Way
• Post Track
• Priest's Way

R

• The Ridgeway
• Ruthergate

S

• Sweet Track

T

• Tarr Steps

W

• Wade's Causeway
• Wansdyke
• Watling Street
• Welsh Road
• Welsh Way

Definition of medieval

The adjective medieval literally means “of the Middle Ages,” i.e., the period between antiquity (the Roman world) and the early modern era 

Common chronological range

Historians most often treat the Middle Ages as roughly the 5th century to the 15th century: from the collapse of the Western Roman Empire (commonly dated 476) up to the Renaissance and early modern transitions around 1400–1500 

Standard subperiods and their usual dates

• Early Middle Ages: about 500–1000.
• High Middle Ages: about 1000–1300.
• Late Middle Ages: about 1300–1500.
  These are conventional labels; exact boundaries vary by region and by the historian’s focus 

What authors usually mean when they write “medieval”

• Broad cultural sense: the social, political, religious, and material world shaped by feudal institutions, Christendom, and post‑Roman societies in Europe between Late Antiquity and the Renaissance 
• In specialised works an author may narrow the term (for example, “medieval urban law” might mean 1100–1400), so check the author’s period definition in introductions or captions 

Origin and first use of the word

The English term derives from Latin medium aevum “middle age.” The modern English adjective (often spelled mediaeval earlier) was coined in the 19th century from that Latin phrase; recorded modern forms date from the early 1800s (commonly cited 1825 for the form medieval/mediaeval) 

Quick guidance for reading historical scripts

When you encounter “medieval” in a text, assume 5th–15th centuries unless the author states otherwise; for precise work always look for the author’s explicit chronological scope because usages and boundary years differ by topic and region 

Bronze Age time boundaries overview

The Bronze Age is a cultural-technical phase defined by the pervasive use of bronze (an alloy of copper with tin or arsenic), alongside associated changes in technology, trade, burial practice, and social organisation. Its absolute dates vary widely by region because metallurgy and associated cultural changes spread at different times. Below are commonly used regional ranges and practical guidance for tagging or labelling gazetteer entries.

Common regional date ranges

• Near East and Anatolia
  Early Bronze Age: c. 3300–2100 BCE; Middle Bronze Age: c. 2100–1600 BCE; Late Bronze Age: c. 1600–1200 BCE.
• Aegean (Greece and Cyclades)
  Early Bronze Age: c. 3000–2000 BCE; Middle Bronze Age: c. 2000–1600 BCE; Late Bronze Age: c. 1600–1100 BCE.
• Central and Western Europe
  Broad Bronze Age: c. 2300–800 BCE; subdivided (Early/Middle/Late) roughly as Early c. 2300–1500 BCE, Middle c. 1500–1200 BCE, Late c. 1200–800 BCE.
• British Isles (including Devon and Cornwall)
  Broad Bronze Age: c. 2500–800 BCE; Early Bronze Age often starts c. 2500–2000 BCE (after Late Neolithic/Beaker horizons), Late Bronze Age ends c. 800 BCE.
• South Asia (Indian subcontinent)
  Indus-related Bronze Age/Harappan: c. 3300–1300 BCE (mature Harappan c. 2600–1900 BCE); local Bronze-using traditions continue and overlap with early Iron use.
• East Asia
  Bronze Age in China: roughly c. 2000–771 BCE (Xia-Shang-Zhou sequences; Shang c. 1600–1046 BCE is strongly bronze-rich).
• The Americas and parts of Sub-Saharan Africa
  No true widespread Bronze Age phase comparable to Old World sequences; metallurgy often appears much later and in different forms.

Practical guidance for mapping and gazetteer work

• Use region-specific ranges rather than a single global boundary.
• For ambiguous or single-site reports, prefer relative labels: Early Bronze Age, Middle Bronze Age, Late Bronze Age, or Bronze Age (broad)with a numeric range (e.g., Bronze Age c. 2500–800 BCE).
• Where chronology is uncertain, record both: cultural label(Bronze Age) and confidence/precision(e.g., high if radiocarbon dated; low if typological only).
• Include key local markers in metadata: metallurgy present; Beaker/urnfield/bronze-ritual features; radiocarbon dates range; typology links.
• Allow fields for overlapping phases (e.g., “Late Neolithic / Early Bronze Age transitional”) and for caveats like reuse or later disturbance.

Why ranges differ and how to communicate that

• Start and end dates depend on: first local alloy production; availability of tin or copper sources and trade; cultural adoption of bronze technologies; and the arrival of ironworking.
• Use wording that communicates variability: “Bronze Age (regional: c. 2500–800 BCE)”or “Bronze Age — British Isles convention: c. 2500–800 BCE”.
• When precision matters, attach dating evidence: radiocarbon ranges, stratigraphic context, or diagnostic artefact types.

Short recommended labels for database fields

• Period label: Bronze Age
• Region qualifier: e.g., British Isles
• Numeric range: e.g., c. 2500–800 BCE
• Subdivision: Early / Middle / Late (if known)
• Dating confidence: High / Medium / Low
• Dating evidence: Radiocarbon; typology; stratigraphy; historical reference