THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
91
piece of worke, for before the time the like had never been seen in England." The
site was called Stratford Ferry.
There can be little doubt that the old Roman road from London into Essex
ran through Shoreditch, and we have good evidence that this road passed over the
Lea at Old Ford, either as a ford or ferry.
At Oldeforde (to quote its olden form) a portion of the Roman road, which has
always been known by that name, exists ; and on land abutting on this road, close
by and north of Coborn Road Station, when it was cut up for building about 1866,
a stone Roman coffin containing a skeleton and pottery was unearthed. These
were described by my old friend, Mr. H. W. King, the well-known antiquary, and I
have a photograph of them taken in situ. Where the road then came out after crossing
the marshes is not so clear, but in all probability it was close by the Channelsea
Bridge at Stratford (straight-ford), or, maybe, a little north of that point. The
crossing of the marshes was a difficult matter, for they have always been subject
to floods after heavy rains ; and we have historical data of the dangers often
incurred, which will be quoted later. At the present time, there would be four
streams to be crossed, but Mr. King asserted that none of these existed in the
time of the Roman occupation. It is, at any rate, probable that these streams
were subsequently cut, either to drain the marshes, or to form mill streams.
With regard to the course of the present road, the earliest evidence we have is
in one of the Plea Rolls, which have been printed under the title of "Placitorum
Abbreviato." In Roll 95 we find Middlesex and Essex :
" Our Lord Edward the Kings father in the 31st year of his reign (1302) com-
manded Roger de Brabazon and others that they should enquire who ought to
repair the Bridges and chalk causeway in the Kings Street between Stratford atte
Bowe and Hamme Stratford."
Concerning the deficiencies, an inquisition was made by a jury, twelve for
Essex and twelve for Middlesex :
" They said the ferry over the water of Luye or Lee at Stratford-atte-Bowe was
anciently accustomed to be at that place called Oldeforde, which is one league
distant from the place of both bridges and the causeway, and now are near to-
gether ; at which ferry many, crossing over from various places, have been
plunged in the water and in danger. And when afterwards such great danger
came to be made known to the Lady Matilda the Queen of England, Consort of
our Lord Henry the 1st King of England, [she was Abbess of Barking Abbey,
and must often have passed along this route], she, moved by her piety, com-
manded it to be examined how both the bridges and the causeway could be made
better and more convenient for the utility and easement of the country and the
passengers over them. The which was done by the said Queen, who also caused
two bridges to be built - namely the bridge over the water of Lee, and the upper
end of the towne of Stratford-atte-Bowe ; and another bridge over another trench
of the same water, towards Essex, which is called Channelesbrigge. And also,
a chalk causeway between the said bridges, so that all passengers going over it
may well and securely cross the same. And forasmuch as the said queen desired
that the reparation and support of the aforesaid bridges and Chalk Causeway
should from that time be imposed, so, out of her charity, she bought those lands,
rents, meadows, and one water mill which is called Wiggemulne, and assigned
them to be for the repair and support of the Bridges and Chalk Causeway
aforesaid."
This duty was imposed upon the Abbess of Barking and her successors, as
the Abbey of Stratford was not founded by Gilbert De Mountfitchet until 1135.
Later, however, an Abbot of the latter bought the lands of this trust with its
obligations ; then, as repairs were needed, constant disputes arose and continued
till 1315, when an agreement was made between the then Abbot and Abbess