The Salt Way
5: Buried Fortune: Tales From the Salt Way
In February 1953, an excavator working at the ironstone quarry near Goadby Hall, unearthed a significant Roman coin hoard—one of the largest ever discovered in Leicestershire. This cache, comprising over 1,700 bronze coins was buried in a large, grey ware jar. The circumstances of its burial remain unknown—who concealed the coins, and for what reason, can only be speculated upon.
Whilst the tale of Marcus Tullius Severus, a fictional merchant who hides his earnings along the Salt Way, is a product of imagination, the Goadby Marwood coin hoard is a tangible link to the area's rich Roman past.
This tale, told from the perspective of our fictional merchant, is narrated by David, a resident of Goadby Marwood.
Coins from the Goadby Marwood Hoard
c. AD 200 to 300
Bird-shaped plate broach
c. AD 43 to 200
Images courtesy of Melton Carnegie Museum
To learn more about some of the other fascinating artefacts discovered near The Salt Way in Goadby Marwood visit:
Audio Transcript
I am Marcus Tullius Severus, a merchant of the Empire, and today I journey along the Salt Way as it hums with the echoes of countless traders who have travelled its length. This ancient track, worn by the feet and hooves of generations, carries not only my wagon laden with goods but the weight of history itself. Yet even as I journey in pursuit of commerce, my thoughts are occupied with a personal burden—coins earned through shrewd trade and long negotiations that must, for now, be hidden from prying eyes and the uncertainties of the times.
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The Salt Way has long been more than a mere passage; it is a lifeline of commerce and culture stretching back generations. Before Roman roads stitched the land together, the industrious Corieltauvi carved out this route, and over the centuries it has become a vital artery for salt—a commodity as precious as gold for its power to preserve and sustain. Today, it links me not only to distant sources of salt extracted from coastal areas or mined at Salinae, but also to bustling centres of trade: iron-working settlements and thriving towns where merchants such as myself gather to exchange wares and news.
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As I pause my journey here, the rhythmic clang of iron being smelted mixes with the lively chatter of traders haggling over prices. This is a settlement of some renown, where iron is forged and exchanged with merchants from nearby Vernemetum and Margidunum. The land is rich not only in natural resources but in opportunity, touched by native ingenuity and Roman enterprise.
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My satchel is heavy with coins—bronze pieces minted under Emperors Gallienus, Victorinus, Tetricus, and a few from the era of Probus. Their weight is a reminder that even the might of Rome is subject to the whims of fortune. In these unsettled times, a merchant’s earnings are always at risk of theft or loss. So, as the sun dips toward the horizon, I decide to make a temporary deposit—a secret cache, and a promise to myself that I will return when the fates allow.
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I find a quiet field on the edge of the settlement. Its soil is soft, tilled by generations of farmers, and here I dig a small pit. Into it, I place my coins within a pottery urn, sealing away my wealth from chance or misfortune. As I cover my cache, shaping the earth into a modest mound, I feel a strange satisfaction: my prosperity, a product of diligence and skill, now rests safely beneath the soil.
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Sitting upon the cool ground, I gaze across the field and reflect on the Salt Way’s long history. Here, traders have carried salt and wool, pilgrims have sought solace, and generations of native Britons have lived and laboured. I vow that one day, once my travels have concluded, I will return to this field and reclaim my treasure. These coins are more than wealth; they are a symbol of survival and hope in times of uncertainty. Rising with renewed determination, I tuck the secret of my hidden hoard into my memory and resume my journey along the Salt Way. The road stretches onward, etched with the footsteps of countless travellers, and I, too, become part of its enduring story.
