26 BURTON, ANCIENT AND MODERN. 
further evidence on the point. The other fact that seems 
to me to support the same view is that the Abbey Chronicles 
have been searched in vain for any record of the original 
building of the bridge. ‘The earliest deeds in which the 
bridge is recognized as being in existence”—I am now 
quoting from Mr. Molyneux (page 56)—‘‘were executed 
during the time of Abbot Bernard, 1151-1175.” From these 
it is clear that at that time “the bridge was already built, 
and in all probability it had been constructed so long as to 
have required extensive repairs.” From this he goes on to 
argue, following the opinion of Shaw, that this communica- 
tion must have existed ‘“‘many centuries previous to the 
foundation of the Abbey.” Again I must admit that there is 
something in the argument, but on the other hand I cannot 
forget that history tells us nothing of any bridge building, 
or even road making, on any great scale between the era 
of the Roman occupation and that of the Norman Conquest, 
and I have already told you at some length why I cannot, 
without very strong evidence, believe that any bridge was 
made here by the Romans. I will now pass on to another 
question. If we feel satisfied that the high road from Ashby 
to Uttoxeter, Ryknield Street, did not pass through Burton, 
where did it cross the Trent? It is just possible that 
before long we may receive something like an answer to 
this question. In May last our Secretary received a letter 
from Mr. John Ward, a gentleman who has rendered 
excellent service for some years past to the Derbyshire 
Archeological Society, in which he says that he is collecting 
materials for the Archeological survey of Derbyshire, and 
asks for any help that any members of our Society can 
give him. He remarks that both Shaw and Molyneux 
speak of a Roman road from Leicester through Ashby and 
Branstone, and thence to Uttoxeter, and asks whether any- 
thing has been done towards the further elucidation of the 
matter. 1 myself have not been able to find the allusion 
