Page:VCH Leicestershire 1.djvu/343

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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