Nempnett/Regil RR - 5 June 2018 >

Introduction

The postulated road runs most clearly from just south of Nempnett church to the north end of the village of Regil. Beyond Regil to the north it may proceed towards the important Roman site at Gatcombe and there are some indicators for this.  To the south  It seems to be heading towards the Mendips and possibly the road south east from Charterhouse. The main indicators in the Nempnett church to Regil stretch are, 1, A continuous line of hedgerows that stand out from the general pattern of field enclosures,   2, the road through Regil which is aptly named “the street “, a common reference Roman roads ( late Latin ‘strada’,OE ‘straet’).

1.            Track opposite Church Farm near Nempnett Church.       

We walked a short distance from the road along a track as far as the Line, which could be seen in continuous straight hedgerows roughly north and south in both directions ( picture seems to show bend because of descent into valley). The track cut through the hedge row and therefore the possible road at right angles. We did not notice any traces or indications in this gap, but in fact we didn’t actually examine this; probably the passage of vehicles and animals and laying of hard core would have destroyed any trace. A pity because this would have been a good place to investigate possible remains.

2.    We walked across the field from the road by an old barn to the point where the line crosses a small stream which coincides with where Pit lane also crosses at about 30° to the line. Nothing to be seen here. The stream has cut a deep narrow gully and works would be needed to cross it, even though the stream is small.(Picture shows where the line climbs up the hill ).

3.    Top of steep lane ( Plasters Green)

The lane runs roughly east and west and becomes Gravel Hill on its way to Chew Stoke. At the top of the steep hill this lane cuts across the line almost at right angles. The side banks were too high to get more than a glimpse (pic of hedgerow line to N of Lane) of the hedgerow line on either side.

Possible traces of road structure.

However we did see towards the bottom of the bank of south side of Lane on the line, some horizontal layers of stone that might be traces of the road. We will need to return in winter when there is less vegetation.

Gradient.

The line to this point from the south comes at a very steep gradient, as sometimes seen on Roman roads. If this seems implausible for wheeled transport , country lane Gravel Lane has double chevron gradient marks and a single one further on, and all lanes around have steep hills. So if pre-motor farm traffic could use these, so could wagons manage the line.

Hump.

There might be a hump in the road side bank where it is at rectangles to the line. However there is far too much vegetation in June to be able to examine this properly.

4.    We drove along the postulated line through Regil village  to a crossroads just to the north.

One possible continuation from here might be the road to Winford Manor, then up Old Hill ( Lane) to Felton, then north via a series of foot paths in the direction of Gatcombe   

Conclusion

This possible road seems unlikely to be a conquest period road since it seems to have no military strategic purpose, and it does not connect any known important sites. So it could be a post-conquest road for non-military traffic.

If indeed it does go to Gatcombe then of course it would connect to the road from Abona. To the south it might cross Mendip and proceed south, but the former is pretty conjectural and the latter completely so.

The road can only be confirmed, possibly by lidar or drone, but ultimately by geophysics/Excavation , Or discovery of clear traces.