This camera was installed and is maintained by the Environment Agency and can be viewed
here. All content is available under the
Open Government Licence v3.0. The Fosse Way, constructed during the first and second centuries CE, was a prominent Roman road that connected Exeter in the southwest to Lincoln in the northeast, passing through Ilchester, Bath, Cirencester, and Leicester. The term "Fosse" derives from the Latin word "fossa," meaning "ditch." In the initial decades following the Roman invasion of Britain in 43 CE, the Fosse Way served as the western frontier of Roman authority in Iron Age Britain. It is plausible that the road originated as a defensive trench, which was later filled and transformed into a road, or perhaps a defensive ditch ran alongside the road for certain sections.Situated in the northwest of Wiltshire, Sherston is a remarkably picturesque village. It lies approximately 5.5 miles away from both Malmesbury and Tetbury. The older segment of the village occupies a spur of land formed by the Sherston branch of the River Avon, with the earliest settlement established on the flat summit of this spur, near the church. Although minimal evidence exists of prehistoric activity, there was once a bank and ditch located to the west of the church, which could have served as a defensive fortification or a territorial boundary. Flint arrowheads have been discovered in the region, suggesting the presence of flint working, despite the absence of naturally occurring flint in the area. Since the 17th century, Roman coins have been unearthed locally, which is unsurprising considering the Fosse Way lies merely 2 or 3 miles from the village.
In 1987, a Romano-British farmhouse was uncovered near Vancelettes Farm, north of the village. Initially built around 350 CE, this modest dwelling consisted of one room for human habitation and two rooms for animals, although it was later expanded. The primary focus of the farm was sheep and cattle, and some evidence of ironworking was discovered. During the excavation, a stone sarcophagus containing the lead coffin of a child was found, along with other burials, predominantly infants. The farmstead had been subjected to an attack, likely occurring in the early 5th century, as the remains of the owners were discovered beneath the collapsed structures. This event may have been an early raid following the withdrawal of Roman troops or a local conflict resulting from the breakdown of law and order. Undoubtedly, a Saxon settlement emerged in the area, with the earliest written record dating back to 896 when the name "Scorranston" was first mentioned. However, it is probable that the settlement predates this period. The contentious matter of Rattlebone originates from the Saxon era, specifically in the early 11th century. In the mid-17th century, John Aubrey documented the following piece of doggerel from Sherston.
