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Cantley Hall & Roman Kilns

Around a mile and a half away ‘as the crow flies’ is Old Cantley. Cantley Hall is a grade II listed Georgian mansion set in parkland in the village of Old Cantley. It was built about 1786 by Childers Walbank Childers of Carr House. The previous building on the site had been a farmhouse, which was incorporated into the new building and used as domestic quarters.  The Hall was constructed in two storeys using stuccoed brick with a Westmorland slate roof.

During the Roman period, from the 100s-300s AD, Cantley was a major site for the making of pottery. Coarse grey bowls, jars and dishes were made. The pots were fired in circular clay-built kilns dug into the soil.  During the firing the pots or vessels were placed into a chamber in the upper part of the kiln.  Brushwood was used to fire the kilns. The grey colour was made by deliberately excluding the air from the kiln during the cooling process. The pottery was then transported by boats along the Rivers Don and Torne.

In May 1953 a number of Romano-British pottery kilns were discovered at Cantley housing estate.  By 1961 a total of 39 kilns had been recorded, with other kilns found at Kilham Farm, near Branton, Rossington Bridge and Bessacarr.

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Wildflowers at Doncaster Lakeside

The best place for wildflowers at Lakeside is on the islands, because these were originally sown as perennial wildflower meadows when the area was first developed.

Local enthusiasts conduct an annual survey of the islands and the hills, finding over 60 types, including bee orchids. Another type of orchid, the Broad-Leaved Helleborine is flourishing on the islands. It would not have been part of the meadow planting, so may have arrived in the soil of the root balls when trees were planted on the islands.

There is a wildflower identification board on the island, which concentrates on the meadow flowers.

 

The content of this trail has been developed by the Doncaster Lakeside Wildlife Action Group. Visit their website at: http://lakesidewildlifeactiongroup.weebly.com/ or follow them on Twitter @WildlifeLakeDN4. 

 

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Question

How many islands are on the lake?

• Answer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answer: Two

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