Roman Road near East Grinstead

Abstract

A ROMAN road, which is described as “one of the most perfectly preserved of its type in Britain”, has been discovered in a field at Holtye near East Grin-stead (The Times, February 13). It is part of the old Roman highway which ran from London to Lewes and here crosses a field. The land on which it is situated has been purchased by Mr. I. D. Margary, a Sussex archaeologist, for the purpose of investigation and later preservation. At present a stretch of the road, about 85 yards long and varying in width from 15 to 18 ft., has been uncovered. Wheel marks are plainly visible; but the iron-slag surface has rusted together so solidly as to form a mass almost as hard as concrete, and consequently in an excellent state of preservation. In certain places it has been necessary for the workmen to remove soil to a depth of three feet to reach the surface of the road. The remains of vegetation several inches in depth indicate that at one time a forest grew over the road.