The 20th of October, 1726, I traced the Cardike round the out-skirts of Sir William Ellys’s park of Nockton: it runs near the site of the old priory, whose ruins are just visible: it bounds the park entirely on the fen side, and is very perfect thereabouts; the high-country streams from Dunston, and others, running along it. We saw where it crossed a marshy valley, and reached the opposite high ground in its course to Washenburgh. A well of the old priory is well preserved, remarkably good water.
That part of the Cardike between Lincoln and the Trent was begun to be cleansed by bishop Atwater, but he died before completed. It is highly probable that the Romans called our Cardike Fossa, which happens to be preserved only on that part between Lincoln and the Trent.
The Fossdike in being in Edward the Confessor’s time. Vide Camden, Nottingham.
Cardike runs close by Thurlby town end.
The marquis of Lindsey gave me an exceeding fair Maximinus; the reverse, GENIO POP. ROM. found at Grimsthorp.
Mrs. Tichmus of Stamford told me she once had many Roman coins, from a great parcel found at or near Sleford.
The 18th of October, 1728, I travelled on the Roman road, the eastern branch of the Hermen Street from Sleford, for about three miles southward. I observed that it went not to Sleford town directly, but to the old house of Sir Robert Carr’s, formerly Lord Hussey’s (attainted for treason in time of Henry VIII.) called Old Place. We saw by the way, on the east side the road, a mile or more south of Sleford, an old work, square, ditched about, large, with an entry from the road; the earth of the vallum thrown on both sides.
But it was not enough for the Romans thus to provide for commerce and travelling, without they set proper stations or mansions for the reception of negociators and the like. Accordingly we find the distance between Caster and Lincoln, about 40 miles, has two towns upon it at proper intervals for lodging; these are Sleaford and Stanfield: the original names of them are in irrecoverable silence, but the eternity of the Romans is inherent. Sleaford Ro. town.At Sleaford they have found many Roman coins, especially of the Constantine family and their wives, about the castle and the spring-head a little above the town. It is probable that Alexander, the bishop of Lincoln, built his work upon the site of a Roman citadel. Beside, at Sleaford comes in the other Roman road from the fen country by Brig-end causeway, and at the intersection of these two roads the old town stood. At Stanfield,Stanfield Ro. town. which is a little village near Burn, they find daily the foundations of buildings, innumerable coins and other antiquities, of which yourself and our friend Mr. John Hardy have a good quantity. These are chiefly dug up in a close called Blackfield, from the extraordinary richness of the ground. It stands half a mile off the road upon elevated ground, whence you may see Spalding, Boston, and the whole level: it is now only of some note for a good chalybeat spring.
I shall rehearse a few things I have noted hereabouts, and then we will descend into Holland. The following antient part of the genealogy of the inheritors of Brun, or Bourn, contains several antiquities hereabouts. The spring-head at Bourn, near the castle belonging to them, is remarkable for its largeness and quickness.
