In Roman times, a road ran from Ilford to Latchingdon through here. In the Saxon period commonhold land was often sliced into parallel strips known as 'Sceats'. This is the origin of the 'Shot' part of Shotgate, which has nothing to do with shooting or hunting.
In ancient Roman times, a road connected Ilford to Latchingdon through this location. During the Saxon era, commonhold land was frequently divided into parallel strips called 'Sceats'. This is where the 'Shot' component of Shotgate originates, unrelated to hunting or shooting.