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Margary Number:
Other Numbering System:
Distance:
In other words, it is feasible, but there is no evidence.
The route described by Margary (Margary 1973, p.412) would approach Rotherham from Templeborough by a route close to the modern Sheffield Road (A6178), then climb out of Rotherham by Doncaster Gate and Doncaster road as far as Dalton. From there Margary assumed that the modern A 630 must follow it as far as Warmsworth, perhaps seduced by some of the long straight lengths of the modern road, which are almost certainly down to the engineers of the Tinsley and Doncaster Turnpike, built in 1764. Many field boundaries do not relate to the modern road, rather it cuts across them, demonstrating that the road came later than the fields. Margary speculated that the Roman line north east of Warmsworth was slightly to the north of the modern road, represented by Florence Avenue, formerly Fiddler’s Lane, and Littlemoor Lane then direct to Doncaster, the excavated site near Oswin Avenue being close to this line but, given the results of the excavation, this is mere speculation.
As Elmsley observed, the route is not without merit, but there is absolutely no evidence. Fieldwork is currently being planned in the vicinity of Templeborough to try to get a better understanding of the road network in the area. For now, until that work is complete, the road will be recorded as presumed for its entire length although it would be very easy to discount the road entirely.
Emsley, R. W. (1965) Brief report in OS linear file RR710c, held in the Historic England Archive, Swindon
Magilton J. (1977); Doncaster District: An Archaeological Survey; Doncaster Museums and Arts Service, Doncaster
Margary, Ivan D. (1973); Roman Roads in Britain, John Baker, London
RRRA Forum for RR710c
The idea of a road linking the two forts on the River Don in South Yorkshire, Templeborough and Doncaster, a continuation of the road from Navio (Brough on Noe) to Templeborough, would at first seem logical and even to be expected. Stopping to think about it, however, would there be any need for such a road? Goods or supplies would have been moved much more efficiently by utilising the R.Don. Any major troop movements at either site would have been likely to be south to north, and vice versa, so the only use of such a road would be for minor troop movements or communications between the two forts. Being as objective as possible, the need for this supposed road is far from clear cut.
To makes things worse, there is actually no archaeological evidence for the road, other than a claim of a possible length of agger near the Oswin Avenue School, Balby (Magilton, 1978, p.49), excavated by Doncaster Museum with uncertain results (SE 551013) in 1978. Lidar coverage over the route is fairly good, less than half of it being obscured by modern development, however there are no features visible which might suggest a road. The modern road, the A630, was supposed by Margary to represent it for the most part (Margary, 1973, p.412) but if that was the case we would expect the Roman line to cut across at least some of the modern bends. The Ordnance Survey’s Field Investigator, R. W. Emsley, summed it up perfectly as follows
“The general course adopted by the modern road is well suited, but many of its deviations are avoidable. There is no ground evidence, however, for any possible straightening of the alignment.”
R. W. Emsley, 1965
Historic Environment Records, HE Pastscape and other records
Margary's Roman Roads in Britain, road 710c
Entry compiled by Mike Haken - Last updated, 21 February 2018
