Page:VCH Derbyshire 1.djvu/326

 A HISTORY OF DERBYSHIRE Chester both to Doncaster and to Templeborough. But it may be observed that, apart from the epithet of Thorpe, no evidence seems to exist to support the theory of a Doncaster road, and until such be forth- coming it cannot claim consideration. It remains to notice the name Rycknield. This name, with slight variations in spelling, has been applied to our road since the middle of the fourteenth century. But it is not in any sense the original name of the road. It first appears in the writings of Ranulf Higden, and from his day it tends to take the place of an older name, Icknield. Possibly enough it is an antiquary's invention, due to a misreading of Icknield. But it is not entirely due to this cause. We find in the thirteenth century at least two place names in the Midlands which are either the same as Rycknield or are very similar to it. One is a road mentioned in the foundation charter of Hulton Abbey (dated A.D. 1223) as a boundary near Stoke in Staffordshire, and called, according to one copy, Richmilde, but according to another, Rikenilde. The other is the older name of Thorpe Salvin, which, as far back as A.D. 1284, was called Thorpe Rikenild. Higden may well have heard of one or other of these names, and have been influenced by them in changing Icknield to Rycknield. But even Icknield itself is not a genuinely ancient name. The real Icknield Street seems to run along the Chilterns and Berkshire Downs, and the tranference of its name from that region to a road connecting Gloucestershire and Derbyshire is again the crime of an antiquary. (b] LITTLE CHESTER TO SAWLEY Stukeley noticed a road running from Little Chester eastwards towards Chaddesden, and from the south limit of Chaddesden Park a singularly straight modern road runs for j miles past Borrowash and Draycott to Sawley. Here begin the lowlands beside the Trent, and the road stops. It is not marked as Roman or ancient by parish boundaries or significant names. But its curious straightness suggests that it may be Roman, and most writers have accepted it as such. Its object is doubtful. Usually it is thought to have crossed the river into Notting- hamshire and continued to the Fosse. But no trace of this continuation is visible, and its purpose may have been rather to connect the fort at Little Chester with the navigable Trent. Near Sawley that river joins the Derwent and Soar, and the united waters form a considerable stream. The Roman villa at Barton in Fabis, on the Nottinghamshire bank of the Trent, might also have been served by this road. 1 (f] LITTLE CHESTER TO ROCESTER AND STAFFORDSHIRE A modern road runs straight for about ten miles between Derby and Rocester. It begins near Mackworth and passes Langley Common, 1 Stukeley, Iter Boreale, p. 25. Bennet (Bp. of Cloyne) in Lysons, ccxv. (repeated by Glover, i. 292 ; Bateman, Vestiges, 145; Watkin in Derb. Arch. Journ. viii.). Notts, and Derb. N.anJQ.vi. 8 1, 84. The idea of Bennet and others that a road led through Chaddesden and Stanton to Nottingham seems devoid of evidence. 246