A HISTORY OF RUTLAND is that it passes the settlement at Thistleton," and is here known as Fosse Lane. But the evidence for its existence, both literary and archaeological, is very slight, and for the present it is better to reserve judgement. It may also be noted here that Mr, W. H. Wing has detected traces of a road at Market Overton, leading across the fields from that village to Thistleton, and thus meeting the last-named road almost at right angles ; but though a connexion between the camp and settlement in Roman times is quite conceivable, such a road stands in no relation to any known main track, and can only have a local significance. Topographical Index Barrow. — *A perfect brooch with pin in working order,' of the Roman period was found by Mr. W. H. Wing in a cottage in 1 90 1. It had been picked up by a labourer thirty years previously. Pottery is found here scattered over the surface of the fields [_Proc. Soc. Antiq. (Ser. 2), xix, 194]. Braunston. — A quern was found here in 1901 [Proc. Soc. Antiq. xix, 200]. Casterton, Great. — Great or Bridge Casterton lies near the line of Ermine Street, about two miles north of Stamford and 10 from Durobrivae (Castor), and as the name implies and remains indicate, was a Roman station of some kind. Camden endeavoured to identify it with the site of Causennae,^ mentioned in the fifth Antonine Itinerary ; but the distances of that place from Lindum and Durobrivae respectively render such an identification impossible ; moreover, it is not quite on the line of the ancient road. Horsley says : ' At Bridge Casterton two miles north from Stamford has been also a station. It is situated on the north-east side, and near a crook of the small river that runs by it. The author of the New Survey is disposed to set aside this station, and reject the proofs of its being so, as insufficient, but I think they are too strong to be overthrown ; and believe that this is not the only instance of a station, placed on the military way, and yet passed over in the Itinerary ' [Camden, Brit. (ed. Gough, 1806), ii, 333 ; Salmon, New Survey, i, 308 ; Burton, Comm. on Itin. Anton. 203 ; Horsley, Brit. Rom. 432 ; Beauties of Engl, and TVales, xii, pt. ii, 3 ; Blore, Hist, and Antiq. of Rut. i, pt. ii, 1 12 ; CoJrington, Roman Roads, 148]. Part of the ridge of Ermine Street is said to be visible between Casterton and a lane leading to Tickencote on the west [^Beauties of Engl, and Wales, loc. cit. ; Codrington, op. cit. 145 ; see also p. 87 above]. Stukeley says : — Brigcasterton happened most convenient for a station, being ten miles from Durobrivis, but the Itinerary mentions not its name ; for the distances between them, and likewise to Lincoln, impugn Mr. Camden and such as place Ciusennis here : however, it was fenced about with a deep moat on two sides, the river supplying its use on the other two ; for it stands in an angle, and the Romans made a little curve in the road here on purpose to take it in, as it offered itself so conveniently, then rectified the obliquity on the other side of the town "... this great ditch and banks are called the Dikes. I saw many coins that are found here ; and one pasture is called Castle Close at the corner : they say the foundation of a w'all was dug up there. Roman Fibula Barrow [///'«. Cur. 84 ; see also Gough, op. cit., ii, 353, and Grose, Antiq. of Engl, and TVales, in, s. V. Rut."] He says in a note that he found coins in the fields by Ryhall : of Nero, Trajan, Maximian, Constantine, &c. Mr. Bell gave him a Pertinax found in Tickencote Lane, and he saw among others a silver denarius of Pompey found in 1733 in Casterton field. Remains of earthworks are still visible in this parish on the north-east of the village, which lies almost wholly within the original area, in the south-west angle of which stands the " In its course along the Leicestershire border such a road would pass near Sproxton, Saltby, Croxton Kcrrial, and Bclvoir, at all of which Roman remains have been found (see map in F.C.H. Leic. i). At Saltby a pavement ' with wheel-marks' is reported. ' He connects the name with that of the River Wash or Gwash, and says that Stamford grew out of its ruins. ' This is incorrect. He was misled by the course of the modern main road. 88
