Roman Slag Heap, Beauport Park

Image: © Simon Carey Taken: 21 Feb 2007

In 1869 the rector of Hollington discovered a huge pile of slag in this part of the wood with evidence of Roman Pottery and tiles. What he had discovered was one of the largest Roman iron workings in the entire Empire. At one point there was 100,000 tonnes of slag lying in the vicinity but much of this was used by the 19th century version of the Highway Agency to metal the local roads. In the 1970s a retired classics teacher uncovered an excellently preserved bath house to the south of the heaps believed to have the highest walls still standing. Unfortunately, a lack of money and the remains being on private grounds means the site is not accessible to the public.

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