York Historic Environment Record

There can be no dispute that aerial photography has, and continues to play a major role in the discovery of new archaeological sites, and the enhancement of sites already known. From this article therefore, it can be seen that aerial photography has provided much of the evidence for the road system in the immediate environs of Stamford Bridge. Until such material was available, the road system to the east of Eboracum has had to be deduced with what evidence was available, and the use of modern road alignments coupled with parish and county boundary lines was the obvious approach to take. It can now be seen that there are two road routes available for travellers from Eboracum to the east, ~ giving access to both the Wolds or Malton. With SBR 1, a traveller may bypass Derventio and travel straight to Malton via a possible route from Gate Helmsley, over Buttercrambe Moor to Buttercrambe. Alternatively, a traveller could aim for a crossing of the Wolds through Derventio (SBR 2 and SBR 3), or aim for Derventio (SBR 2) and then travel north-east to Malton (SBR 4). There are two routes from Barmby Moor, to the south, one of which I have discussed (SBR 5). This route would allow direct access to Malton from Barmby Moor area without having to go through Derventio. With still no evidence emerging for a Roman fort on the south-bank of the Derwent (W'YAS 1997), within the village of Stamford Bridge, or indeed, any evidence of civilians having settled there at all, it would seem that the Romans utilised the shallows located there (Ramm 1965) as a crossing point only, and that the centre of occupation in the area was located at the North Farm and Reckondales area, just over lkm to the south.