ANCIENT EARTHWORKS 



are the fish stews of the ancient priory, which have been gradually disap- 

 pearing until very few traces remain. 



HOBY (xix, 10). Remains of an ancient fishpond, altered during the 

 last decade. 



HUMBERSTONE (xxxi, 8). South-west of the village are two aggers ; 

 one is 120 ft. in length, and the other a transverse 60 ft. in length. To 

 the north of the village is a bank which originally formed one corner of a 

 rectangular site, probably a homestead defence. Also, north-east of the 

 manor-house, are three extensive fishponds, one 40 ft. wide and containing 

 a spring. 



HUSBANDS BOSWORTH (xlix, 16). A work which was formerly in this 

 parish is illustrated in Nichol's Leicestershire, iv, I, p. 219. The diagram 

 represents three banks inclosing the north, west, and south sides of a parallelo- 

 gram, to the east of which were two quadrangular and one circular mounds, 



3 ft. in height, but they have been destroyed too far definitely to place them 

 in Class G. 



KNAPTOFT (xlix, 4). A fragment of an ancient camp is incorporated 

 in the manorial defences ; the north-east angle only remains, with a vallum 



4 ft. high. Its former plan is mentioned in Class C. 



KNOLL AND BASSETT HOUSE (xxxvi, 6). A small agger is near Bassett 

 House. 



LEICESTER (xxxi, 10). 'Dane Hills,' a marvellous maze of entrench- 

 ments generally facing south and south-west, are situated to the west of the 

 town. The deep sunken roads and the high aggers, many of them 48 ft. and 

 60 ft. on the scarp, inclosing hollows probably used as primitive dwelling- 

 places, present a formidable stronghold. Portions of these works have been 

 destroyed, and the remainder are now in the market for building sites. The 

 Ordnance Survey fails in giving a correct plan. 



LEICESTER (xxxi, 14). Three-quarters of a mile south of Leicester 

 Castle are the ' Raw Dykes,' a portion of a double vallum and intermediate 

 fosse, running in a direction north-east and south-west. The escarpment is 

 20 ft. into a fosse 80 ft. wide ; the counterscarp is 28 ft., and the heavy outer 

 vallum has a scarp of 50 ft. broken by an oblique pathway. Indications of 

 an outer work are at the south-west approaching the river, but the railway 

 has destroyed it. This fragment is preserved by being situated on ground 

 owned by the corporation ; a continuance of the works in two adjoining 

 fields was destroyed about two years since. A large number of Roman coins 

 have been found here. In the seventeenth century a battery was mounted 

 on the Raw Dykes, by which Prince Rupert was enabled to capture the town. 



MEDBOURNE (xlvi, 1 1). Near the ancient road north-west of the village 

 are traces of entrenchments. 



MELTON MOWBRAY (xx, 2). East of Spinney Farm are traces of en- 

 trenchments facing south, in which flint flakes and a pounder have been found. 



OSGATHORPE (xvi, 8). A double vallum with intermediate fosse runs 

 north-east to south-west. The inner vallum is 5 ft. 2 in. high, and the outer 

 6ft., with an escarpment of 28ft. into a shallow fosse. 



OWSTON AND NEWBOLD (xxxiii, 2). Three large embanked fishponds. 



PECKLETON (xxxvi, 5). On the west of the village a heavy agger, 300 ft. 

 long, 1 1 ft. high, and 28 ft. wide at the base, is now cut into three sections. 



i 273 35 



