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Roman
Roads in Stoke-upon-Trent - Rykeneld
Street |
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Source:
"The Borough of Stoke-upon-Trent" John Ward, 1843 |
Charter of the Abbey of Hulton
The
Foundation Charter of the Abbey of Hulton, dated 1223, contains a description
of the possessions, granted by Henry de Audley, to the Abbots and Monks; which
includes lands in Normancote (became
Normicot Grange, now Normacot), adjoining to Longton and Lane End.
This
estate is said to be bounded by the old course of the river Blithe (now river
Blythe), as far as a place called Wetmeresbrook, (or Wetmotesbrook), which
must be near Bthythe Bridge, and from there to run up Rykeneld
Street and through the village of Mere as far as the spring which flows
from the intakes of Mere. ("De
assartis de Mere" - Assartum signified land reclaimed from a wood or
waste).
Here
we have a document more than seven hundred years old which identifies Rykeneld
Street.
Route
of Rykeneld Street
"This
road proceeded from Blyth Marsh, in a direct course towards Lane End… the
Sutherland Road in Lane End is a continuation of it; at the north end of which
it again unites with the turnpike road, and passing the church, goes on to
Lane Delph; but there the turnpike road diverges a little, and the Rykeneld
Street goes, or rather did go, in a direct line to the pear-Tree Houses, and
the Manor House of Little Fenton; then passing Cauldon Place and Shelton Hall,
a little on the left to Foul Hay House, from whence it most likely proceeded
up a hollow way or dingle to Wolstanton Marsh; thence, perhaps, through the
village of Wolstanton, to the top of Port Hill, and along the present road
towards Bradwell Hall, in the direction of Chesterton; but we are unable,
after considerable diligence, to discover any traces of the Rykeneld Street
between Wolstanton and Chesterton.
map
of theRoute
of Rykeneld Street - through Lane End, Wolstanton to Chesterton
next: Chesterton and Roman
occupation
