Broad Well, Burges Ford, Palmer Lane

June 1935

A FOOTPATH

Since the finding of the bridge at the bottom of Palmer Lane, another footpath has been revealed at a distance of about 10 yards to the west of the bridge. A number of piles had been driven in a very marshy place at a depth of about 12 feet, and on the top of the piles large stones of great hardness had been placed, and would probably lead to a narrow foot-bridge crossing the river, thus making four crossings within about 30 yards. A Norman pot was found near here, though imperfect.

BURGESS FORD

Burgess derives its name from "Bridges," of which there were two in the Burgess valley which carried the river Sherbourne and the river Albert, or Naul's Mill stream, through to the Priory Pool, which worked the Prior's Mill. This relates to a much earlier time than the present Burgess, and points to a ford, and not bridges, being the original road leading to Well Street, Silver Street, and Bishop Street. This ford was at a depth of 12-ft. 6-in. from the present level, and about 1-ft. under the present river bed; it was also about 10 yards to right of the Burgess going towards the north, and lay under the present houses and shops built there in 1792-4. Large beams from old Saxon houses had been placed in the river bed, and sunk so as not to stop the flow of the water, and on these large rough hewn planks 15-ft. in length had been placed, so that horses walked through the water on a solid foundation for feet and wheels.

It will be interesting to trace the road each way from this site, and find where it joins up to Well Street and Broadgate. Over this course the main traffic of the Monastery would come, as their drinking water had to be carted from the Broad well in Well Street long before the conduit of 1333 was built round it, and possibly even to the Nunnery, which stood on the same site long before. It will be no exaggeration to say that this ford was existent in the time of Earl Leofric and Countess Godiva, and no doubt they crossed it many times. Post and planks found are preserved for a future museum.

NOTE - As further discoveries are made articles will be printed in due course giving particulars of them.

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