280 South Wilts in Romano-British Times. 



lane which opens into tlie middle of Bishopstrow village, and 

 leading to tlie site called " The Bnries." ^ 



We may he sure that there was a connection with the villa and 

 Warminster, although where it ran I am not prepared to say ; but 

 from the fact that Roman coins have heen found on the high 

 ground of Warminster Common the connection may have been in 

 that direction. 



Again, we may be pretty certain that the settlement at Knook 

 and those on the hills on the north side of the Wylye valley were 

 connected with Warminster and the great " hold " at Bratton, by 

 the grass road which runs along the high plain from Chitterne 

 towards Bratton, and which is still the recognized means of 

 traversing that lonely region. 



Thirdly ; the northern settlements may with great probability 

 have been connected at Codford with the southern settlements, and 

 here " ford " may imply not only the passage of the river, but, in 

 accordance with the general usage of the word, a path generally. 



But while the main track led diagonally across the valley, there 

 is, fourthly, a smaller track which ascends the downs. The footpath 

 leading uji the face of Scratchbury, then past the east gate of the 

 " camp," then down the northern side of the down, shows traces 

 of being more than a shepherds' track. As it descends towards 

 Heytesbury p]ast Hill Farm it has plainly been cut out of the side, 

 but yet it could not be calletl " Eoman " in the ordinary sense of 

 the term, that is, laid out and Ijuilt by Roman engineers. Rather, 

 it must be regarded as a local track joining the valley with the 

 settlement above Knook, for that is plainly its direction. 



Thus, by the road leading diagonally across the valley, we are 

 al)le to connect the settlements on both sides of the valley with 

 the great road from Old Sarum to the West, a road of great antiquity 

 and interest. It will well repay consideration, for it puts us into 

 the way of answerhig the question : Why was there such a large 

 population on these Great Ridge hills ? The answer is two-fold : 

 first, because they are the first places, after you leave the fens of 



' So called from the Great Bury, Wood Bury (two), and Kittle Bury, which 

 are in that higher part of Bishopstrow. 



