Problem with the London-To-Lewes Road alignment...

The History of Sydenham from Cippenham to present day. Links to photos especially welcome!
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Falkor
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Location: Surrey Quays

Problem with the London-To-Lewes Road alignment...

Post by Falkor »

When I draw a straight line between the 2 nearest excavation areas, where traces of the road were found, the alignment I get is different to what the book tells us!
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It only clipped the corner of the Elm Lane fields according to my alignment!
will greenwood
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Location: moorlinch

Post by will greenwood »

Roman roads are not always so perfectly straight.
....and I was under the impression this road more or less disproven a few years ago.
Falkor
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Joined: 10 Feb 2006 17:45
Location: Surrey Quays

Post by Falkor »

I think it's far from disproven... just nobody seems to know the alignment around Perry Hill/Bellingham area. One section of the road was found near Brockley Way Bridge and another in Southend Lane. But I'm reading newspaper articles about another section found on Blythe Hill.
Last edited by Falkor on 15 Feb 2008 09:41, edited 1 time in total.
will greenwood
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Post by will greenwood »

fair enough!
I'd be interested in that info.
The last I heard was an archaeologist saying the road was '.....probably archeaological wishful thinking', after a dig at blythe hill....
Happy to find it may have actually been there.
Blythe Hill has some interesting history anyway, I believe
will greenwood
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Post by will greenwood »

...cheers for bringing those threads up, mate....
much more than i realised...excellent..
is there anything about the workhouse or brick factory on blythe hill...while we're passing
Falkor
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Post by Falkor »

Nope, can't find anything... information is scarce. I do seem to recall some info in one of the 8 books, but I must have missed it. I scanned in most stuff on Brockley... brick factories at Crofton Park etc.
Steve Grindlay
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Location: Upper Sydenham

Post by Steve Grindlay »

There is a thread that mentions the Blythe Hill brickworks on <se23.com>

There may be more information, but I'm away from home at the moment.
will greenwood
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Post by will greenwood »

cheers for that steve!
Do yohu know if there actually was a workhouse on Blythe Hill...I believ it wa where the kids playground now is.
Falkor
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Location: Surrey Quays

Re: Problem with the London-To-Lewes Road alignment...

Post by Falkor »

Here's my theory on the course and alignment of the Roman road through Sydenham: (click below image for the full-size unclipped version of it)
Image
What do you think?
Falkor
Posts: 1371
Joined: 10 Feb 2006 17:45
Location: Surrey Quays

Re: Problem with the London-To-Lewes Road alignment...

Post by Falkor »

Wow, I never realised the Pool River had been completely diverted over the years!!! :shock:
Image

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This should be a straightforward dig to locate the Roman Road! I guess it must be only a few inches below the ground... :!: :idea:

Who wants to meet up with me to dig a small trench? :twisted:
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