The site at Wheeldale that is now in the care of English Heritage has long been considered to be part of a road that originally ran for approximately 40km (25 miles) over the Vale of Pickering and North York Moors.
History
It was thought to be a Roman road, possibly linking a settlement at Malton with the coast near Goldsborough and skirting the forts at Cawthorn, south of Wheeldale.
If it was an early Roman road, it might have led to an unknown Roman fort; if 4th century, it would have served the signal stations on the coast. Some recent studies question this, however, and suggest that the site at Wheeldale was a commercial route of a later date, or even part of an earlier, Neolithic boundary.
Monuments of this type are very difficult to date because of the lack of associated archaeological finds.
Other nearby sites
Archaeological sites near to Wheeldale include late Iron Age or Roman square and rectilinear enclosures – which were most likely part of farmsteads – and cists, or burial chambers.
One of these cists contained a skeleton, and these features may be of prehistoric date.
Local legends
The first published reference to the site was in 1720 when it was described on a map published by John Warburton as ‘Wades Causeway – Roman Way’. According to local legend, Wade was a giant who shaped the area by gouging out valleys with his bare hands.
The site was also known as ‘Auld Wife’s Trod’ in the 19th century.
Used for stone
Since it was first described, sections of the stonework have disappeared.
A length was re-used in the building of the modern road from Snape to Egton. Other stretches have been removed completely or re-used as foundations for enclosure walls.
It was probably the lack of post-medieval enclosure on Wheeldale Moor that allowed this section to remain intact. The monument has been in state guardianship since 1912.
Description
The surviving section runs through wild, beautiful moorland, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and it extends for just over a mile. It follows the western edge of a valley before dropping sharply into the valley bottom. It is constructed of large stones that are set into a sand and shale gravel mix, approximately 0.3–0.4 metres (12–16 inches) deep.
There is a top layer of sandstone slabs, which vary in size, with thin upright kerb stones on the north-east side. Its width varies between 5.5 metres (18 feet) and 6.5 metres (21 feet). It has a camber with culverts running beneath it to assist drainage. Some culvert cover stones remain and several of the culverts have been rebuilt. The ditches on either side are probably modern.
The section descending into Wheeldale Gill features a central rib of stone slabs which anchors the stone foundation. If the site was indeed a road, this rib could have provided traction on the steep slope.
Sources
Hayes, R H, Rutter, J G and Rimington, F C 1964. 'Wade's Causeway: A Roman Road in North-East Yorkshire', Scarborough and District Archaeological Society Research Report 4
Margary, I D 1967. 'Roman Roads in Britain', London: John Baker
Waites, B 1980. 'Monasteries and the wool trade in north and east Yorkshire during the 13th and 14th centuries', Yorkshire Archaeological Journal, 52, 111–21
Disclaimer
The text and pictures on this page are derived from the 'Heritage Unlocked' series of guidebooks published in 2004. We intend to review, update and enhance the content in the near future as part of the Portico project, whose objective is to provide information on the history, significance, research background and sources for all English Heritage properties.
