CHAP. VI.

THE SAND HILL-A COMMERCIAL STATION-REASONS FOR BELIEVING THAT THE ROMAN FOSSE-WAY COM→ MENCED AT THIS HILL-ELLYLL-ETYMOLOGY OF THIS NAME-ERRONEOUSLY TERMED HELL HILLSITUATE IN A DEEP MORASS-MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE INHABITANTS-ADDICTED TO EXCESSIVE DRINKING-EDUCATION OF THEIR CHILDREN-MODE OF FIGHTING-TOOTE HILL-ETYMOLOGY OF THE NAME-A PLACE OF JUDICATURE-SIGNS OF TRUE OR FALSE JUDGMENT-A BRITISH HAMLET HERECELEBRATION OF PUBLIC GAMES-CUN HU HILL DERIVATION OF THE NAME-WAS THE RESIDENCE OF A BRITISH PRINCE.

SAND HILL.

THIS hill, in contradistinction to the civil, military, and religious stations with which it is surrounded, I shall designate by the name of the Commercial Station, as it is situated immediately adjoining the junction of the two havens; and appears to have been thrown up for the use of those who prosecuted

their daily avocations by fishing and other maritime employments; as well as for the purposes of trade and commerce. This was the extreme point of one of the principal military ways constructed by the Romans; and I am the more induced to believe that Grymsby was a principal sea-port used by the Romans, Saxons, and Danes, in their intercourse with the midland part of the kingdom, not only because no other port on this coast could afford such safe anchorage and secure landing as Grymsby Roads, and the Old Haven; but principally because the Romans thought it of consequence enough to convert it into a terminating point of their great road, called Via Fossata, which connected the Port of Grymsby with Aqua Solis, or Bath; thus forming a direct line of communication between the two great rivers Humber and Severn. This celebrated road commenced at the Bar Gate, which lay at the foot of Sand Hill, whence it communicated with the Abbey and Holm Hills by a track way, which still remains. From hence it proceeded to Ludford and Lincoln, where it crossed the Ermyn-street, and went in an undeviating line to Leicester; and thence to Corinium and Bath. Nor did it end here, for the design of this celebrated way appears to have embraced many advantages. From Bath, it took a southerly direction to Ilchester, and ended at Moridunum, the site of a maritime town, now called Seaton. Thus connecting, by one great road, the eastern, southern, and western parts of

Britain. And it is thought by some credible authors, that a branch of this celebrated way proceeded northward from Lincoln into Scotland.

I confess there appears to exist some doubts in the minds of our antiquaries, whether this great road proceeded from Grimsby or Saltfleet, to Ludford, in its course to Lincoln; and much has been said on both sides of the question. In the years 1788 and 1789, it was traversed from Ludford into Devonshire, by Dr. Bennett, Bishop of Cloyne, and Mr. Leman ;* and pity it is, but these enterprising antiquaries had commenced their research at Grimsby, as I have no doubt but they would have successfully ascertained the commencement of this stupendous road. Neither Dr. Stukely nor Sir R. C. Hoare pronounce a determinate opinion on the subject. The latter profound antiquary, tracing this road in a contrary direction, says merely, that "having crossed the Ermyn-street at Lincoln, it proceeded to the sea coast, perhaps to Grimsby, or Saltfleet."+ Here the precedence, in point of probability, is given to Grimsby; and this determination was not formed on slight grounds; for Grimsby was a port, at that time, very much superior to Saltfleet. The Humber afforded secure anchorage for shipping, in all winds, and under every violent fluctuation of the weather; while the sea off Saltfleet, was of dangerous navigation, and its anchorage always

*Beaut. of Eng. and Wales, vol. 9. p. 314.

+ Wiltsh. vol. 2. pt. 2. p. 24.

unsafe. Besides, the Humber was a river of importance, affording a direct communication with the northern counties; and it appears a reasonable conjecture, that the Romans would find a convenience in connecting the Severn, with the Humber, rather than with a small rivulet, whose navigation extended no farther than to a single port.

It is evident from Hollingshead, that there existed some well understood connection between these two great rivers, which could be effected by no means so easy and natural as by a great public way; for he has a whole chapter on the subject, entitled "Of such waters as fall into the sea in compasse of the Island, betweene the Severne and the Humber."* Camden does not even mention Saltfleet, which is a striking indication of its want of importance in his time. His observations respecting the whole of the coast between the rivers Witham and Humber, show that few places of consequence existed here in ancient times, and no considerable ports for shipping. "From the mouth of Witham," says he, the shore swells out with a great bend into the German ocean to the Humber mouth, notched with several little æstuaries. It has but few towns, because the harbours are scarce, and many shoals lie off hereabouts." And Leland tells us, that "in his time, Saltflete Creke is a Havenet (or little haven,) and as the shore lyith, it is vi. miles above

• Description of Britain, c. 14.

+ Gough, vol. 2. p. 338.

Huttoft Creke."*

Of Marsh Chapel, Leland makes nearly the same observation, and therefore we may conclude that these two havens were of equal importance. "From Grimeby to Marche Chapelle, where is a Dok or Creke, about a 4 miles."t

I do not deny but Saltfleet might be a haven of some account for coasting vessels, in the time of the Romans; but it was neither of sufficient capacity, nor of safe access, for ships of war. It furnished two vessels towards the expedition of King Edward into Brittany; and it is mentioned, in Domesday, as a coasting port, though not subject to toll in the time of Edward the Confessor.§ But Grimsby, from the evidence already adduced, was capable of admitting the Saxon and Danish fleets into its harbour; and as experience shews that it has been regularly subject to accumulations of sand, it affords reasonable ground of conjecture, that prior to the period here referred to, it was of still more considerable importance; and hence the Romans would endeavour to unite two eminent ports, situated on two of the principal rivers in the kingdom, by a permanent and well constructed military way.

ELLYLL HILLS.・・

On these eminences, which are very small, containing together but about three acres, doubtless erected a few huts for the lowest order

.

were

* Itin. vol. 7. p. 152.

+Ibid. vol. 7, p. 152

§ Bawdwen, Dom. Boc. p. 618.

I

Archæol. vol. 6. p. 214.