Hylton, crossing of the River Wear

HER Number:
286

District:
Sunderland

Site Name:
Hylton, crossing of the River Wear

Place:
Hylton

Map Sheet:
NZ35NE

Class:
Transport

Site Type: Broad:
Road Transport

Site Type: Specific:
Ford

General Period:
Unknown

Specific Period:

Form of Evidence:
Documentary Evidence

Description:
Two possible Roman crossings of the Wear have been suggested, one at Ford, the other at Hylton. There are two separate accounts of a mass of laid stone across the Wear at Hylton, with an oak framework, decorated stones, a lead inscription, and evidence for the use of cramps. Since most of this structure was removed in 1865, it is now impossible to determine whether this was indeed a Roman structure, and whether it functioned as a bridge or causeway. Recent authors have tended not to claim a Roman road in this locality.

Easting:
351

Northing:
569

Grid Reference:
NZ351569

Lats/Lons:

Sources:
<< HER 286 >> R. Surtees, 1820, History of...Durham, II, pp. 306-07, 317 W.H.D. Longstaffe, 1858, Durham before the Conquest, Proceedings of the Archaeological Institute Newcastle, I, p. 61 Rev. Dr. Hooppell, 1885, A Further Account of Traces pf a Roman Bridge at Hylton,Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 2, I (for 1883-4), pp. 134-8 F. Haverfield & Rev. W. Featherstonhaugh, 1891, Hylton Ford, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 2, IV (for 1889-90), pp. 230-1 E. Birley, 1939, Roman Inscriptions from Chesters...and two Milestones, Archaeologia Aeliana, 4, XVI, pp. 257-9 D.P. Dymond, 1963, Roman Bridges on Dere Street, County Durham, Archaeological Journal, Vol. 118 (for 1961), p. 151 R. Selkirk, 1983, The Piercebridge Formula, pp. 77-8 P.T. Bidwell & N. Holbrook, 1989, Hadrian's Wall Bridges, pp. 112-13 Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle, 3, I, 98-9