The building of the new Inner Ring Road is beginning to have an effect on our everyday lives and the environmental structure of our area. Another change is the controversial plans for apartments along Grimesthorpe Road at Wood Hill.
Both these projects fall within the shadow of the Roman Ridge or Rig which links Sheffield at Bridgehouses, with Denaby/Mexborough – 14 miles away.
At Spital Hill, the sites demolished making way for redevelopment are all being studied by the Sheffield ‘Time Team’ – the University Archaeological Department (ARCUS) who are plotting the past ages of Sheffield and its people. When the railway was being built in the first half of the nineteenth century, Roman remains were found at points behind Sorby House and along Carlisle Street East.
Much information will be uncovered in the next two years and will give us a much clearer picture of our heritage. This then is an appropriate time to examine our Roman Ridge and travel its length in our boundary.
Our portion of the Rig is the raised embankment between Wincobank and the Iron Bridge at Bridgehouses running alongside Tyler Street, Grimesthorpe Road and Brunswick Road. The path, originally built by the advancing Roman soldiers, led from their camp at Templeborough (on the site of the Magna Centre), and on into Derbyshire and the Melandra Camp at Glossop and beyond.
From any number of vantage points along the Ridge the modern views are splendid, but take yourself back through time, after the Romans, the building of Sheffield’s castles, the Civil War battles, the Zeppelin raid in the First World War then the Sheffield Blitz.
It was from the fortress on Wincobank Hill that Brigante warriors held back the Romans invaders across the River Don at Templeborough for several years. The Romans required a sizeable influx of reinforcements to break forward.
The Brigante's choice of location was strategically perfect. From their fortress they could oversee what is now four counties and from the modern day lookout you can make out the spire of Lincoln Cathedral on a good day. This outlook has made it ideal as a Beacon site, both as a warning alarm and to signal success and celebrations.
But, to put a matter straight, the Ridge cannot be credited to the Romans, its origin is far earlier; in fact it dates back to the early Britons, when the Brigante followers of Queen Cartimandua roamed the coutryside and made their settlement at the apex of Wincobank Hill, they created the workings as part of their defences.
by Albert Jackson
If you have any questions you can write or email the Messenger, or meet Albert Jackson at the ‘Remembrance Renewed’ exhibition on Sunday, 13th November 2005 at the Exhibition Chapel in Burngreave Cemetery, (Melrose Road entrance) 11am–4pm (admission free). A walk around the Cemetery will take place at 2.00pm.
A recently published book; Journey along the Roman Ridge by KA Cronk, which gives a detailed in-depth survey of the entire length and is available at the Central Library at Surrey Street or from local bookshops.
You can find out more about the Romans in Burngreave on our website in the back issues. Or use the category selector and choose ‘local history’ – https://www.burngreavemessenger.org.uk/.
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