down to the Ermin Way and Romanized Britons certainly lived in the area. In 1984 archaeological finds were discovered near Lower Green suggesting the presence of a Roman dwelling of some kind, possibly not unlike the Roman villas found at nearby Kintbury and Littlecote. During building work near Combe in 2003, a Roman burial was found. Saxon The Roman army withdrew from Britain in around AD 410 and the settlement of Anglo-Saxons from Denmark and Northern Germany followed soon afterward. At the foot of Inkpen Beacon is, what some believe to be, the eastern end of the Wansdyke, a long ditch and bank or linear defensive earthwork, built sometime between 400 and 700. Current theory suggests a date around 470 when some hill forts were being refortified by the Romano-Britons. It runs east–west between Inkpen Beacon and Portishead near Bristol. Although its eastern end is generally thought to be just south of Marlborough, this small section is named "Wansdyke" on Inkpen's enclosure award map of 1733. Its construction clearly points to danger from the north, perhaps from the first Saxons of what is now Berkshire, who settled around Abingdon. Early Saxon coins, known as sceattas, have been found on the Downs. Amenities and landmarks The parish church of Saint Michael is 13th century. The east window of the chancel and west window of the nave were added in the 15th century. The church was restored by Clapton Crabb Rolfe in 1896; he added the south porch, south window and north aisle. The church's new reredos, altar tables, rood and rood screen, pulpit, lectern and much new seating were carved for Rolfe by Harry Hems of Exeter. The church is a Grade II* listed building. Near the centre of the village, just off Post Office Road, is Inkpen Crocus Fields a large field of saffron crocuses, one of only two in the United Kingdom. According to the information plaque, the plants are believed to have been brought here by the Knights Templar in the Middle Ages for the production of saffron. It is currently owned by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust. Inkpen House, the old rectory, was built in 1695 and is a Grade II* listed building. Behind is a remarkable miniature Versailles garden inspired by the great French landscape architect, André Le Notre. Kirby House, a Grade II* listed building, was built in 1733 and West Court House,