Page 24 - link magazine

24 NEWS & VIEWS
WOMEN'S INSTITUTE LINK TO THE PAST
by Nick Digby, Thamesdown Archaeology Unit.

This new and regular across the entire map. By
column will put you in touch with following the line it can be traced
the history of West Swindon. to Droitwich in Worcestershire
To many it may come as a to the North and to
surprise that the area does have a Southampton in the South.
history at all, despite its modern The reason for such a road
appearance. In fact remains of running up the southern half of
the Romano—British are England can only be explained
common, and medieval peasants when the product with which
cottages lie scattered in many Droitwich has been associated is
field corners or now under neat known. The product was salt!
modern houses. Much of the Salt was a basic necessity
known evidence has been and the salt springs at Droitwich
recorded by the Thamesdown were exploited by the Romano—
Archaeology Unit, based at British who named the place
Just moved in?. .Wanting to US AND SEE? - the emphasis is Wick Farm, off Hay Lane, that Salinae. They almost certainly
meet people?. .Fed up with the on fun and friendship. There are narrow windy and very uneven inherited use of the site from the
and two W.I.'s in your area - in the road running between Hook Iron Age people, and pottery of
housework
shopping.. .WHY NOT JOIN morning The Link W.I. held on Road, Grange Park and the that date suggest distribution
THE WI... The W.I. has a full the 1st Tuesday in the Purtori Road, Shaw. Part of it must have followed a route
and varied programme from Community Suite from l0am- has now been turned into foot— similar to that of Hay Lane.
crafts to computers, darts to 12noon, they also run a creche. path from Hook Road, across In Worcestershire the route
debate even pastry making to In the evening on the 3rd Sudeley Way to Grange Park is still called Salt Lane, and 90%
parachuting. The meeting are Wednesday at 7.30 pm Way. of it is still used as lanes and
monthly and consist of short and Tootlebrook W.I. meets in the This lane provides one of roads. Freshbrook and the M4
concise business, a speaker or Toothill Community Room. the most obvious links, as its have removed short sections but
demonstrator and a social time. Contacts: The Link W.I. - Val origins are extremely ancient. A its historic character survives
The W.I. is non sectarian and Leighfield 875436 Tootlebrook glance at any Ordnance Survey across much of North Wiltshire,
non party political and it is open W.I. - Cynthia Lund 486362. Map shows Hay Lane running even if its days as a major
to all women. WHY NOT TRY almost straight North—South, highway are long since vanished.
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