Historic road junction at Cold Harbour

Image: © Tim Heaton Taken: 19 Nov 2021

The minor road coming in on the right is the B6403, which follows the line of the Roman road, Ermine Street, running from Lincoln (north, right) towards Peterborough (south, left). The main road is the A52, which from Donington (east, behind) to this point follows the route of the Salt Way. From this point the Salt Way crossed over Ermine Street and continued west to cross the River Witham at Saltersford. Much has been written on the origins of places called 'Cold Harbour'. The name is presumed to refer to a cold (exposed, bleak) place of refuge https://www.cantab.net/users/michael.behrend/repubs/karslake/pages/hahn.html , and it has been suggested that "Cold Harbours are all in the vicinity of one or other of the great Neolithic or Roman roads, and were originally the remains of partially destroyed Roman or Romano-British dwellings, or settlements" https://www.cantab.net/users/michael.behrend/aw_cuttings/ocr/p_117a.html , which could apply here. Other articles may disagree (Richard Coates, Coldharbour - for the last time?, Nomina 8, 73-78 (1984). http://www.snsbi.org.uk/Nomina_articles/Nomina_08_Coates.pdf

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