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CHAPTER II.

THE ROMAN SEA BANK.

DURING the four centuries that the Roman legions held possession of this country they effected many great improvements. Good roads were made, fens and marshes were drained, and sea banks were erected. It is gratifying to find that the first great barrier at Tetney against the restless sea was constructed by them. It is part of a more extensive work, and continues, as far as our parish is concerned, from North Cotes to Humberston. Starting near the south end of the Cowskit Bank Road, it follows the line of that road to near the brick bridge, where it crosses the main drain, and is easily traceable over some grass fields, skirting the brick-pits on the west, then crossing the Lock Road and a couple more fields, it extends due north between the East Field and the Cowmarsh till it touches the Bishopthorpe Farm, across which it slants N.E. to the inlet between Tetney and Humberston, known as Humberston Beck.

This bank is a venerable relic, and would prove an inestimable benefit to the parish for many years. Most probably openings were left in the bank at the fleet (or Waithe Beck) and the Humberston Beck, that their waters might pass freely into the sea; and consequently the sea water would flow inland at the tides, and the parish would retain its island character. This seems certain from the Anglo-Saxons adding their word for island (EY) to the British Tetten, as just stated. The South Marsh,

Cowmarsh, Newton Marsh, and the Fitties would then all be overflowed by the sea. It is impossible to say where the village, such as it was, would be at this time. Most probably on the higher grounds at the North End, and would consist of a few scattered huts surrounded by fences, each enclosing a small piece of grass land. In time these would increase in number, and apparently formed the dividing line of the great open field which surrounded them into the East and West Fields.

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CHAPTER III.

THE BLOW-WELLS.

"IN the north-eastern corner of the county are many circular ponds, varying from the dwarf which can be leapt over to the giant a hundred yards in diameter, but all appear to be funnel-shaped and to run abruptly from the edge, down a smooth cone of mud, into unknown depths. Sir I. Banks sounded some, but found (so says tradition) no bottom. It is certain that they are extremely deep and dangerous, and pass through strata of clay and gravel into the underlying chalk. In fact they consist of springs, which bring to the surface through a circular channel the superabundance of moisture stored underneath. A fringe of weeds usually surrounds them, and from the rim a brooklet carries off the overflow. They do not freeze in the severest weather, and are thus a frequent haunt of wild fowl in winter; snipe also were generally numerous in their vicinity, which is naturally more or less boggy. They are popularly said to run through to the Antipodes, and they certainly are very deep to judge from the manner in which their lightblue-green waters reflect the sky, as in the deep sea colour known to sailors by the name of 'blue water.' Often a fringe of trees surrounds them, and sometimes a dilapidated set of posts and rails to keep off belated travellers; for cattle, we believe, instinctively avoid them. We know of a house which possessed a young blow-well in its cellar. It generally flowed with the tide, and oftentimes the owner could not get at his beer or wine when the weather was unusually violent. He circumvented it by digging a trench,

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