Page:VCH Rutland 1.djvu/166

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

A HISTORY OF RUTLAND Market Overton (ii, 15). — Five miles north-by-east from Oakham are very definite remains of a quadrangular inclosure which can perhaps be attributed to the Roman period as relics of that age are numerous. The north-eastern side comprises a vallum rising 5 ft. at its most perfect point with an escarpment from 3 ft. to 4 ft. 8 in. deep ; this vallum is broken through in two places, but whether these were original features it is impos- sible to determine, for the rampart was at some later period included in ^^"0"^ SCALC OF FEET 100 200 300 .,^^'-^^'""• Camp, Market Overton manorial embankments, which may in part be seen against and beyond this side of the camp. The north-western side consists of a vallum and fosse ; the former, 2 ft. high, has a scarp of 5 ft. with a counterscarp of 2 ft. ; this has recently been cut through by a trench to ascertain the original depth of the escarpment, which appears to have been 9 ft. A road has been made diagon- ally through the inclosure from the south-east to the north-west, destroying the works at these two angles ; the south-western side of the vallum may, however, be traced in a terrace within the wall of the rectory garden. The 110