h2g2 - The Fosse Way - A Journey through Roman Britain - Edited Entry Watling Street | The Fosse Way | Ermine Street This is a journey along the Fosse Way 1 , the important north–south road running up the western side of Great Britain. The road runs from Exeter (Devon) in the South to Lincoln (Lincolnshire) in the North, forming one of the main routes in Roman Britain. At Lincoln, the Fosse Way joins Ermine Street where travellers could continue their journey north through Owmby or could turn back towards the south through Ancaster (Cavsennae). This would suggest that trade goods from the Empire entered Roman Britain from the southern end of this major thoroughfare and were distributed throughout Britain. Travelling on the Road Travellers on the road were served by a system of way stations or mansios. The privately-owned cauponae were also established along the routes, providing basic hostel-like accommodation. The upper classes, however, would have used the better tabernae; these began as houses on the roadside offering a service similar to the modern 'bed and breakfast' system. Travellers would also need sufficient money to pay the various tolls along the way.

The Start of The Fosse Way Unlike Watling Street , the Fosse Way has one clear starting point: Exeter in Devon. This was originally a Roman legionary fortress , founded by the Second Legion in 46 AD in a riverside settlement of the Dumnonii. It was clearly a well-placed settlement, as the town flourished and developed into a prosperous town and port. The Fosse Way follows two separate routes for one portion of its length, in the section between Exeter and Bath. The northeastern route goes directly from Honiton to Ham Hill. The eastern route goes from Honiton to Ham Hill via Axminster. We are going to travel back in time to 100 - 200 AD, when the journey described in this Entry would have been possible. You will see over 20 settlements, from the grand to the rural, some of which existed just to serve the garrison of the fort near where they were built, and to give shelter to the travellers on the Fosse Way. The journey on foot will take a minimum of about nine days - that's assuming you walk eight hours a day, travelling an average of 32 to 33 miles per day.

It is interesting to note that the longest distance between any two points on this journey is the 23 miles between Honiton and Ham Hill on the northeastern route. This is less than one day's travel for foot soldiers, although wagons and carts could be as slow as eight miles a day. All distances given are starting from Exeter. The condition of the towns and sites today are shown by the numbers at the start of each section: 1 = No longer visible, or built over. 2 = Some evidence visible in the ground: building platforms, mounds and crop marks. 3 = Some ruins are visible above ground. 4 = Visible site with museum support. 5 = A major site and tourist attraction. In addition, the Roman name of the each site is given, where known. Exeter Translation: 'The riverside settlement of the Dumnonii' Condition: 4 Exeter was a British tribal city and a Roman legionary fortress of the Second Legion 2 , and was founded in 46 AD. Originally a Celtic oppidum (tribal capital), Exeter was built on the river Exe. The town had a basilica, a forum, temples and baths.

The houses were of timber and stone, and mosaic floors and painted plasterwork were not uncommon. The town also had a very busy and prosperous port at Topsham, 3 miles to the southwest. Topsham - the port for Exeter Condition: 1 The settlement was originally intended to provide a port to supply the legions in Exeter and the West of Britain. There were timber-framed houses and a few stone buildings, with some paved streets. To start your journey: On the Fosse Way, travel east-northeast from Exeter to Honiton - 18 miles. Honiton Translation: 'Hillfort of the dead' Condition: 1 Honiton 3 was a small religious and trading settlement built alongside the Fosse Way. The settlement developed around 48 AD, around a hill fort that was on the border between the territories of the British tribes the Dumnonii and the Durotriges. Total so far, 18 miles. To continue your journey, there are two routes: On the Fosse Way northeast, continue to Ham Hill - 23 miles. On the Fosse Way east, continue to Axminster - 9 miles.

Axminster Condition: 1 Axminster is reached on the eastern route of the Fosse Way between Honiton and Ham Hill. Alternatively it can be bypassed by taking the northeastern direct route. The settlement was founded as a fort in 64 AD, on the Fosse Way and built as a defended settlement with earth and timber ramparts and faced with a ditch. Sited in a farming area, it was a prosperous settlement of timber-framed and stone housing and some municipal buildings, trade buildings and warehouses with paved streets. There was a small port on the River Axe. Total so far, 27 miles. To continue your journey: On the Fosse Way, continue north 4 to Ham Hill - 20 miles. Ham Hill Condition: 2 There was a fort at Ham Hill built by the Second Legion, the Augusta, in 46 AD. A trading settlement developed alongside the fort and the Fosse Way. The settlement was of timber-framed housing and a few stone buildings, with some paved streets. The settlement was established to take advantage of the stone quarries in the area 5 . Total so far, 41 miles.

To continue your journey: On the Fosse Way, continue northeast to Ilchester - 6 miles. Ilchester Translation: 'The place of lime trees' Condition: 2 A settlement defended with earth and stone ramparts and ditches, the town had a wide variety of housing, several temples and a theatre, with stone municipal buildings, and mainly paved streets. There was a junction of the Fosse Way and local roads to Old Sarum (Sorbiodunum), Bawdrip, East Anton, West Coker and Dorchester to the east of the town. Total so far, 47 miles. To continue your journey: On the Fosse Way, continue northeast to Shepton Mallet - 16 miles. Shepton Mallet Condition: 2 The Roman town at Shepton Mallet was a prosperous settlement of timber-framed and stone housing and stone-built municipal buildings. There were trade buildings, warehouses and paved streets. The town was a local centre for a pottery-producing industry that supplied the whole province. There were more than seven pottery kilns sited to the southwest of the town. Total so far, 63 miles.

To continue your journey: On the Fosse Way, continue northeast to Camerton - 9 miles. Nettlebridge Valley Roman Coal Mines Condition: 1 The Fosse Way passes a landmark on this part of the journey, the open cast Roman coal mines in the Nettlebridge valley. There is evidence of this in the area together with traces of buildings associated with trade in this resource. Camerton Condition: 1 The settlement at Camerton was a thriving one, with earth and timber ramparts and ditches, a wide variety of housing, a temple, a theatre, stone municipal buildings, some paved streets and a busy market. Total so far, 72 miles. To continue your journey: On the Fosse Way, continue northeast to Bath - 7 miles. Bath Translation:'Waters of Sul' Condition: 5 An important settlement and a major religious centre, the town was the site of a hot water spa, with a pool and springs dedicated to the deity Sul (Minerva). The pool was enclosed by a bath house sanctuary complex with eight or more temples surrounding it. Of the main temples, one was built with a square floor plan and three had a rectangular plan.

They were all built alongside the Fosse Way. The town was defended by earth and stone walls. Within the walls, the settlement was of stone and timber-framed housing and fine stone municipal buildings with paved streets, inns and bathhouses. Stone and mosaic floors were not uncommon. There was a wide variety of shops and traders serving the town and surrounding area. The town also had a small port at Sea Mills at the mouth of the Avon river. There was a local pottery industry near the town. Bath was also connected to the South Coast trading port at Poole Harbour, 37 miles away. Salt , local produce, limestone and shale from Purbeck and Wareham were all traded for goods from Gaul. Total so far, 79 miles. To continue your journey: On the Fosse Way, continue northeast to Nettleton - 8 miles. Nettleton Condition: 3 The settlement at Nettleton 6 was defended by earth and timber ramparts and faced with a ditch. There were timber-framed houses and a few trade buildings and shops. There was a stream alongside the settlement with evidence of a water wheel to serve the settlement.

Of the three religious sites in the settlement, the temple to the goddess Diana was built with a rectangular floor plan; the other two were both shrines dedicated to the god Apollo . Total so far, 87 miles. To continue your journey: On the Fosse Way, continue northeast to Easton Grey - 8 miles. Easton Grey Condition: 2 The settlement was founded on the Fosse Way and defended by earth and timber ramparts and faced with a ditch. Sited in a farming area, it was a prosperous settlement of timber-framed and stone housing and some municipal buildings, trade buildings and warehouses with paved streets. Total so far, 95 miles. To continue your journey: On the Fosse Way, continue northeast to Cirencester - 14 miles. Cirencester On the Fosse Way, continue northeast to Bourton on the Water, passing Chedworth - 15 miles. Chedworth Villa Estate Condition: 2 The Fosse Way passes a landmark on this part of the journey, the villa estate of Chedworth. The largest of the many estates in the area, it was built near the river Coln.

Evidence of the wealth of the villa are found in the remains of mosaics and hypocausts 8 . With its size and wealth, it would have dominated this part of the Cotswolds. Bourton on the Water Condition: 2 The Roman trading settlement at Bourton on the Water was built on either side of the Fosse Way. The settlement was of timber-framed housing and a few stone municipal buildings, with mainly paved streets. Total so far, 124 miles. To continue your journey: On the Fosse Way, continue northeast to Dorn - 8 miles. Dorn Condition: 1 Situated at the modern hamlet of Dorn near the village of Moreton-in-Marsh, this was a large market town, built as a defended settlement with earth and timber ramparts. There were timber-framed houses and buildings, and mainly paved streets. Little is known of the settlement and all but the location are lost. Total so far, 132 miles. To continue your journey: On the Fosse Way, continue northeast to Ettington - 9 miles.

Ettington Condition: 1 The settlement at Ettington was a small market town, with timber-framed houses and buildings and some paved streets. Little is known of it, as all but the location are lost. Total so far, 141 miles. To continue your journey: On the Fosse Way, continue northeast to Chesterton on Fosse - 8 miles. Chesterton on Fosse Condition: 1 Chesterton on Fosse was founded as a way station at a point where the Fosse Way crossed a small river. This grew into a small market town, with timber-framed houses and buildings, and mainly paved streets. Total so far, 149 miles. To continue your journey: On the Fosse Way, continue northeast to High Cross - 22 miles. High Cross Translation:'Place of poison plants' Condition: 2 Founded before the arrival of the Romans in Britain, and built as a defended settlement with earth and timber ramparts and faced with a ditch, High Cross was at the junction of Watling Street and the Fosse Way. It was a settlement of timber-framed houses and a few trade buildings, with mainly paved streets.

Total so far, 171 miles. To continue your journey: On Watling Street, go west-northwest to Mancetter (Mandvessedum) - 10 miles. On Watling Street, go southeast to Caves Inn (Tripontium) (2) - 7 miles. On the Fosse Way, continue northeast to Leicester (Ratae Corieltauvorum) - 12 miles Leicester Translation:'The capital of the Corieltauvi 9 ' Condition: 3 Leicester was probably a Claudian vexillation 10 fortress of the 14th Legion 11 in 46 - 47 AD, and a British tribal city (civitas) of the Corieltauvi. Total so far, 183 miles. To continue your journey: On the Fosse Way, continue northeast to Willoughby on the Wolds (Vernemetum) - 14 miles. Willoughby on the Wolds Translation:'Spring Grove' Condition: 2 Vernemetum was a walled town defended with earth and timber ramparts and ditches, with a wide variety of good housing, a temple and a theatre.

There were stone municipal buildings and mainly paved streets. Total so far, 197 miles. To continue your journey: On the Fosse Way, continue northeast to East Bridgford - 10 miles. East Bridgford Translation:'The margin of the hill' Condition: 1 The Roman settlement of Margidunum lay right on the Fosse Way at the point where the present roundabout leads to East Bridgford 12 . It was defended by earth and timber ramparts and faced with a ditch. Sited in a farming area, it was a prosperous settlement of timber-framed and stone housing and some municipal buildings, trade buildings and warehouses, with paved streets. Total so far, 207 miles. To continue your journey: On the Fosse Way, continue northeast to East Stoke - 7 miles. East Stoke Translation:'The place of the bridges' Condition: 2 The settlement at East Stoke 13 was first founded as a fort of the Ninth Legion 14 in 46 - 47 AD, and the Roman name 'The Place of the Bridges' gives the reason for the fort's founding.

It was established at a crossing of the river Trent where a pre-Roman trackway (from Denton to Aldborough - Isurium Brigantum) also crossed the river. The settlement grew to serve the fort and the surrounding areas. It was an ideal site and the defended settlement grew with a wide variety of housing. There was a busy market and trading centre, and there were several temples and a theatre, with good stone municipal buildings, and mainly paved streets. Total so far, 214 miles. To continue your journey: On the Fosse Way, continue northeast to Brough - 7 miles. Brough Translation:'The place of crows' Condition: 2 Founded on the Fosse Way and close to the river Trent, Brough was built as a defended settlement with earth and timber ramparts and faced with a ditch. It had timber-framed housing and a few trade buildings and shops. The town also had some impressive stone buildings that were possibly temples, and a way station or mansio for travellers on the road. Approximately two miles west of Brough, there is a marching camp of the 14th Legion built in 46 AD. Total so far, 221 miles.

To continue your journey: On the Fosse Way, continue northeast to Lincoln - 10 miles. Lincoln Translation:'A pool of dark water' Condition: 4 The settlement of Lincoln was first founded as a legionary fort of the Ninth Legion in 46 - 47 AD. With good connections to London (Londinium) via Ermine Street, trade flourished. A basilica, forum, temple and baths were built; these were followed by a temple complex. The homes were of timber and stone and mosaic floors were not uncommon. There was a wide variety of shops. Bronze making, brick, tile and pottery production were all established in the town. Lincoln was the terminus of the Fosse Way. The total distance travelled from Exeter was 231 miles on the direct route, and 237 miles if the route through Axminster was used. Although this is the end of the route, you could continue your journey in a few ways: To the east to Horncastle (Bannoualum) - 22 miles. On Ermine Street, north to Owmby - 10 miles.

On Ermine Street, south to Ancaster (Causennae) - 17 miles. Horncastle Roman name: Bannoualum Condition: 1 The town was founded as a defended settlement. Substantial defensive works similar to Portchester were built. Good connections to the sea were important for trade: there is no evidence of a port, but landing areas were possible. The settlement lay on the road connecting to Lincoln and the Fosse Way, and was defended by earth and timber ramparts and faced with a ditch. It had timber-framed housing and a few trade buildings and shops. Total so far: 253 miles, 231 miles on the Fosse Way and 22 miles on unnamed roads. To continue your journey: To the east to Skegness - 20 miles. Skegness Condition: 2 The town was founded as a port; good connections to the sea were important for trade. The settlement was connected to Holme next the Sea by a ferry running across the Wash, the great estuary on the east coast of England. It had timber-framed housing and a few trade buildings, warehouses and shops.

Total so far, 273 miles: 231 miles on the Fosse Way and 42 miles on unnamed roads. To continue your journey: On the ferry, cross southeast to Holme next the Sea on the southern shore of the Wash - 14 miles. Holme next the Sea Condition: 2 The settlement was a ferry port on the southern shore of the Wash. Good connections had already been established before the Roman invasion. There is evidence for a small trade port. It had timber-framed houses and a few trade buildings and warehouses. Total so far: 287 miles, 231 miles on the Fosse Way, 42 miles on unnamed roads, and 14 miles by sea. To continue your journey south to London and the south coast. On the Peddars Way, to Kempstone. On the Fen Causeway, from Kempstone to Water Newton (Durobriuae), Cambridgeshire. On Ermine Street, from Water Newton to London - Londinium. On Stane Street, from London to Chichester and Bosham, a sheltered harbour with trade routes to Gaul and the Empire. This would have been a very important east coast route.

Milestones A Roman mile is 1,000 paces 15 and a milestone was set up to mark each mile. Each milestone had a dedication to the Emperor of the day. The Milliarium Aureum (golden milestone) was placed in Rome, on the orders of the Emperor Augustus, as the starting point from which all distances to other parts of the empire were to be measured. Milestones on Roman roads gave the distance to Rome as well as local information. 'All roads lead to Rome'... and, evidently, away from it. Notes on Roman Roads At the height of the expansion of the Empire, roads were built at the rate of one kilometre every day. Initially, the cost of the road was borne by the state; after that it was the responsibility of the local government to raise the money to keep the road in good repair. An official called the Curatores Viarum was appointed who had to raise the money to maintain the roads in his care. Roman roads were not free. There were tolls collected at the towns along the course of the road. As a point of interest, the bridges were a particular source of revenue. This explains the survival and continuous use of fords along the routes.

The Roman surveying tool the groma or 'surveyor's cross' could not be used to survey round corners. It was a line-of-sight tool that could only be used to plot straight lines, as in roads, or in 90 degree right angles as used in laying out towns. Thus Roman roads are straight or cornered in a series of straight sections. 1 The word 'fosse' comes from the Latin word fossa meaning 'ditch'; this may refer to the Roman practice of digging ditches on each side of their roads. 2 Legion II, the Augusta. 3 This site is also known as Hembury. 4 The route passes through Chard; this, however, is a town founded after Roman times by the Saxons and is not mentioned as a town on this route. 5 This was not the place where a particularly fine stone called 'Ham Stone' was quarried; that was a different Ham Hill, 11 miles to the north. 6 The site is also known as West Kingston. 7 Mithras was a popular god who was believed to have been born of a virgin on 25 December. 8 A hypocaust is a type of Roman underfloor heating.

9 This tribe were for many years thought to be called the Coritani, leading to the name Ratae Coritanorum appearing in many references. 10 A vexillation was a company of troops under a company commander known as a vexillum. 11 Legion XIV - Gemina Martia Victrix. 12 The site is also known as Castle Hill. 13 The site is also known as Thorpe by Newark. 14 Legion IX, the Hispania. 15 A pace being the distance marched between two placings of the same foot. A Roman mile works out at about 1,500m, slightly smaller than a modern British mile. Fosse Way - Wikishire Fosse Way Jump to: navigation , search Map showing the Fosse Way The Fosse Way was a major Roman road , 230 miles long, running southwest to northeast from the West Country and all across the Midlands.

It linked Exeter (Isca Dumnoniorum) in Devon to Lincoln (Lindum Colonia) in Lincolnshire , via Ilchester (Lindinis), Bath (Aquae Sulis), Cirencester (Corinium Dobunnorum) and Leicester (Ratae Corieltauvorum). Much of the route is today marked with modern roads. The Fosse Way joined Akeman Street and Ermin Way at Cirencester, crossed Watling Street at Venonis ( High Cross ) south of Leicester. At Lincoln the road finished, and met Ermine Street running from Londinium. The word Fosse is derived from the Latin fossa, meaning ditch. For the first few decades after the Roman invasion of Britain in AD 43, the Fosse Way marked the western frontier of Roman rule in Iron Age Britain. It is possible that the road began as a defensive ditch that was later filled in and converted into a road, or possibly a defensive ditch ran alongside the road for at least some of its length.

This is remarkable for its extremely direct route: from Lincoln to Ilchester in Somerset , a distance of 182 miles, it is never more than 6 miles from a straight line between the two. Contents 3 References Today's route Many sections of the Fosse Way form parts of modern roads and lanes, and parish, district or county boundaries. Several place names on the route have the suffix -cester or -chester, which is from the Latin castra meaning military camp. Some settlements are named after the road itself, such as Fosse-, or -on-Fosse, while others have a more generic form, such as Street, Strete, -le-Street, Stratton, Stretton, Stratford, and Stretford, from the Latin strata, meaning paved road. The route runs from 50°43’48"N, 3°28’48"W in Exeter to 53°13’48"N, 0°32’24"W in Lincoln. Lincoln to Leicester Between Lincoln and Leicester the A46 follows the route of the Fosse Way.

The A46 deviates from Fosse Way at East Goscote , to follow the Leicester Western Bypass. The original alignment, which is still visible as an unclassified road called Fosse Way, passes through Syston , continuing as the minor road Melton Road through Thurmaston , before merging with the A607 (the old A46), continuing into the city centre on the old alignment, first as Melton Road then Belgrave Road and Belgrave Gate. The alignment terminates at the Clock Tower in Leicester, and picks up again at Narborough Road (the A5460), on the other side of the River Soar . A 19-mile stretch of the road between Widmerpool & Newark-on-Trent has been upgraded to a Dual-carriageway which was completed in 2012. The new route deviates in several sections off the historic road line.

Leicester to Cirencester Fosse Way from the top of [Brinklow Castle, Warwickshire South of Leicester , apart from a short deviation near Narborough where the original course is no longer visible, the B4114 (originally the A46 but renumbered when the M69 was opened) follows the route. A short distance north of the A5, the B4114 diverges from the line of the Fosse Way to pass through the village of Sharnford , while for 2 miles the route of the Fosse Way is followed by a minor road, named 'Roman Road' which, although single track, runs along a much wider and slightly domed strip of land with deep ditches either side (the agger). The modern road ends at a picnic site car park, and a further mile and a half southwards can be explored on foot. The junction of Fosse Way with Watling Street , now the A5, is at High Cross (Venonis). Watling Street is the county boundary between Leicestershire and Warwickshire .

The Fosse Way follows the B4455 across Warwickshire , through Street Ashton, Stretton-under-Fosse , Brinklow, Bretford, Stretton-on-Dunsmore , Princethorpe and the site of a Roman town near Chesterton , [1] until it joins the A429 near the boundary with Gloucestershire . Through Gloucestershire, the route follows the A429 through Stretton-on-Fosse, Moreton-in-Marsh , Stow-on-the-Wold , Northleach and Fossebridge, to Cirencester , where it crosses Akeman Street and Ermin Way . Cirencester to Bath Section as a byway north of the M4 South of Cirencester the Fosse Way follows a short section of the A433, then the modern roads depart from it and it is to be traced across open country. The road crosses the River Thames and under the railway – the Golden Valley Line which was constructed via Gloucester .

The road continues and later forming the county boundary between Gloucestershire and Wiltshire , across the old airfield at RAF Kemble, then becomes fragmented sections of country lanes; two sections on this stretch are byways rather than maintained roads, and at points on these routes it widens to as much as 60 feet. The road passes near the Iron Age hill fort of Bury Camp and becomes another section of the county boundary, crossing second the South Wales railway which is the South Wales Main Line, next the site of an old chapel and spring at Fosse Lodge in Dunley, and then the M4. Thereafter it passes through The Shoe and Nettleton Shrub where remains of a posting-station have been found, and arrives at Batheaston . Thereupon it turns due west to follow the river Avon into Bath : Aquae Sulis. [2] Bath to Ilchester Between Bath and Shepton Mallet the line of the Fosse Way follows parts of the A367, through Clandown , Radstock , Westfield and Stratton-on-the-Fosse .

It runs across open country and farm tracks parallel to the A37 north of Shepton Mallet, near the Iron Age hill fort of Maesbury . At Beacon Hill south of Oakhill , it crossed the Roman road along the Mendip ridgeway from Old Sarum to the lead and silver mines at Charterhouse . The Fosse Way passes through the eastern suburbs of Shepton Mallet on a short stretch of the A361 to Cannard's Grave, where it picks up the A37. The Fosse Way follows the A37 through Street-on-the-Fosse and Lydford-on-Fosse on a direct route to Ilchester . The route leaves the A37 at the A303 junction just north of Ilchester, and follows a small track, before picking up the B3151 through the town. The Roman road from Ilchester to Dorchester continues on the line of A37 through Yeovil to the south east.

Other minor Roman roads lead from Ilchester and Lydford-on-Fosse towards Street and the A39 route along the Polden Hills , leading to Roman salt works on the Somerset Levels , and ports at Combwich , Crandon Bridge and Highbridge . Ilchester to Exeter After Ilchester the Fosse Way is followed by a section of the A303 under the ramparts of the Iron Age hill fort of Ham Hill , occupied by the Legio II Augusta, the Second Legion, after the conquest of the Durotriges in Dorset. The alignment leaves major roads after Petherton Bridge [3] over the River Parrett , and follows country lanes to Over Stratton and Dinnington (where in 2002 members of the Channel 4 television programme Time Team uncovered a mosaic next to the road). The route crosses a stream called Stretford Water, climbs the ridge, and follows a short section of the A30 at Windwhistle Hill.

Then it turns on to the B3167 through the hamlets of Street and Perry Street, joins the A358, crosses the River Axe at what used to be called Stratford (now called Weycroft), and on to Axminster . Now we come to the difficult question of where the Fosse Way ends. There are further alignments on the A358 at Ball's Farm and Musbury south of Axminster, which imply a Roman road did continue along the River Axe toward Axmouth and Seaton . (These sections are labelled Fosse Way on Ordnance Survey maps.) However, the main route for Exeter would have followed the Dorchester road west from Axminster to Honiton . The crossroads in Axminster was controlled by a Roman fort at Woodbury Farm, now on the southern edge of the town. The route to the west crosses the Rivers Axe and Yarty to Kilmington , continuing on segments of the A35 and minor local lanes to Honiton. From Honiton the route leads south-west along the old A30, to Strete Ralegh, where there is a short break, then a clear alignment along a minor road towards Exeter.

It is also likely that one or more side roads split from the Fosse Way at Lopen Head or Dinnington , passing around Ilminster , then following the line of the current A303/A30 from Horton to Honiton. For example, there are villages called Crock Street and Street Ash on or near these routes. So in the later years of Roman occupation, there would probably have been a choice of routes from Ilchester to Honiton. Outside links Fosse Way - Roader's Digest: The SABRE Wiki Fosse Way Ratcliffe on the Wreak - Thorpe on the Hill (A1434) Into Lincoln The first thing that needs clearing up with the Fosse Way is whether it actually starts in Exeter . You see, the OS Roman Britain Map has the Fosse Way starting at Axmouth, near Seaton on the Devon Coast, and meeting a crossroads at Axminster where it crosses the Exeter - Dorchester route. This is the only route shown to Exeter. It also ties in with what I remember being taught at school. This road is number 5 in 'Roman Roads of Britain' by Ivan D Margary.

Contents 6 5f: Leicester to Lincoln 48¾ miles 5a: Axmouth to Ilchester 26½ miles Seaton is marked as a Roman settlement, and with the road running down the side of the River Axe to the coast, it denotes a port here. We follow the B3172 Axmouth Road north, although the precise route has been lost by changes to the course of the river over the flood plain. At the A3052 junction, we cross over and pick up the A358 , turning somewhat at Musbury, passing under the A35 and running into Axminster. Here, we deviate from the A358's modern route, continuing along Musbury Road and perhaps South Street. Axminster was a small fort in Roman times, so the kink to get to Stony Lane is relatively easy to explain, as there was only ever one principle axis. In the case of Axminster, that seems to be the Dorchester - Exeter road ( RM4 ). Perhaps, therefore, we should say that Stony Lane is the start of the Fosse Way?

Returning to the A358 once more, we follow it to the Somerset border, where the B3167 picks up the baton. This bypasses Chard and gets us to the A30 near Cricket St Thomas. It is only a brief flirtation with the A30, however, as we soon turn off onto the unclassified Chillington Down through Higher Chillington. So far, much of the route is conjecture, using straight pieces of road coupled with a few documents and archaeology. However, halfway along Nash Lane, we suddenly reach certainty. This was the route of the Fosse Way. Nash Lane becomes Fishers Lane and then Hollow Lane at Dinnington, after which the road is even named Foss Way! It now draws an almost dead straight line across the landscape, until Lopen Lane gives out at a T-junction. However, the hedge line continues and before long we find Northfield Lane, and then the road through Yeabridge. Another T-junction, but just across the fields the A303 traffic rumbles by, and with the odd re-alignment this takes us all the way to Ilchester (Lindinis), Well nearly.

5b: Ilchester to Bath 30 miles The old A303 alignment to Ilchester is still there, as dusty unused lanes, and then across the A37 (the RM47 ), we find West Street, which leads into High Street. Ilchester was a very important Roman town, a provincial capital at one point, and a hub of the local road network. Church Street, the B3151 and former A37 is the road to Dorchester . Then, across the river in Northover, the B3151 ( RM51 ) turns left as the route to the port at Combwich, across the Polden Hills. But the Fosse itself continues, crossing the A303 again just west of the Podimore roundabout. We cross the modern A372 too, and pick up the A37 a little further north, returning to public highway. Apart from the odd kink at Babcary, the A37 runs all the way to Wraxall with hardly a bend to its name. here, however, the Romans had to deviate slightly from ruler-straight to climbe first Wraxall Hill, and then descend Pye Hill.

The A37 has been realigned over the latter. Another few miles of dead-straight brings us to the A361 junction, where the Fosse slips down Church Lane to Cannard's Grave. This is the outskirts of Shepton Mallet, but practically as close as we will get to the town centre. A brief fling along the A37/A361 route, and then a farm track to pick up Fosse Lane. At the northern end, the crossroads has been realigned, but we pick up Martins Lane all the same. At Beacon Hill the road is crossed by the RM45 from Old Sarum (Sorviodunum) to Charterhouse (Iscalis). The Fosse Way alongside the A367 near Dunkerton We now find ourselves in fields again, although hedgerows mark our route almost to the A367 near Ashwick Grove House. As we will find time and time again between here and Bath, the modern route deviates from the Fosse Way, on this occasion to negotiate Nettlebridge Hill. We pass through Stratton-on-the-Fosse (a dead giveaway), and along Wellsway through Midsomer Norton.

We then follow a mixture of side roads, farm tracks and hedgerows down the steep valley and back up the other side, to cross the end of Fosse Lane, and pick up Fosse Way at Clandown. Back onto the A367 , along its former route through Peasdown, straight line Dunkerton Bottom on the old muddy tracks, and so to Wellsway at Odd Down. The Fosse Way followed the A367 Wellsway down the hill towards Bath City Centre, and this route remains an important road today. However, in the 19th Century, the local Turnpike company decided that the final descent was too steep on the ascent, and so built the meandering Wells Road. The old route continues straight down Holloway, and then down the steps to the roundabout at the bottom. The Roman Bridge sat roughly where the Southgate Foot Bridge is, and this was the site of the road bridge until the 1960s. We now head north up Southgate Street and Stall Street to Westgate Street.

Here, as with Axminster all those miles ago, the East-West ( London - Sea Mills on the River Avon) route got priority, and the Fosse Way had to ' multiplex ' eastwards to find the High Street! 5c: Bath to Cirencester 29½ miles The Roman town of Aquaesulis was the meeting point of three roads: the RM52 from Coldkitchen Hill, the RM53 from Mildenhall, and the RM54 from Sea Mills on the Severn estuary. As we reach the top of Northgate Street, we leave the Roman City of Aquae Sulis behind and run through its northern suburbs. Archaeology has not as yet been able to prove the route of the Fosse, save to say that both Walcot Street and Broad Street / Paragon appear to have been Roman Roads. We then pick up the A4 London Road, pass through Batheaston on the old A4 alignment, following the River Avon. The road kinks southwards for a moment when the river does, before taking the curving route up Bannerdown Road to regain the high ground and a north-eastward course.

As we travel along Bannerdown Road, now in open countryside at the very southern edge of the Cotswolds, we pick up the county boundary. As this runs along the left hand verge, it means that we pass into Wiltshire . A little further along, we pass the Three Shires Stone and the county to our left is now Gloucestershire , not Somerset . At the next Junction, Bath Road diverges to the right and we then find Colerne Airfield, and the associated military base on the right. At the northern end of the base, the road swings a little to the east as it drops down Doncombe Hill, losing the county boundary as we do so. We then cross the A420 at a crossroads, and continue in a North Easterly direction, albeit swinging more and more to the east. There are a couple of little kinks which may be original, or medieval adjustments, before we pass under the M4 and almost immediately hit a T-junction called Fosse Gate.

Ahead of us (well actually slightly to the left as the junction has been re-profiled), beyond the gate, the Fosse Way continues, but it is no more than a rough track between fields, and it is about a mile before it becomes public highway once more. The road continues, almost dead straight, through fields with barely a house to be seen, until finally another T-junction appears just beyond Lordswood Farm and the Fosse degenerates to a farm track once more. From here to the A433 , the Fosse is more easily traced by the Gloucestershire/Wiltshire county boundary than any roads or tracks that it follows, but it is still there, marked on the ground by a hedgerow at least until we reach Kemble Airfield. Even here, one of the access roads seems to follow the course, if a little to the east. But then, with just a disused railway and a couple of fields to cross, we find the A433 , and can drive it once more.

The A433 and then the A429 lead us to Cirencester (Corinium Dobunnorum), where the modern A-roads veer eastwards to bypass this ancient Roman Town, but the Fosse is still there, following Tetbury Road and Castle Street as far as the market place. Here, yet again, the Fosse has to yield to the East-West Silchester to Gloucester road ( RM41 ), but at the other end of Cricklade Street, Lewis Lane and London Road show us our route once more. It is possible that Market Place and Dyer Street were also Roman. Here Fosse Way is crossed by the Silchester to Gloucester road ( RM41 and the road from Alchester RM16 . 5d: Cirencester to High Cross 61½ miles We cross the Roundabout and pick up the A429 once more, cross the new outer bypass and then turn left as the road onwards ( B4425 ) is the Bicester Road.

Stow Road heads almost due north, but a series of bends take it back to north-east, across the A40 at Northleach, round another kink to avoid a hill and so past Bourton on the Water. Just north of Bourton, the Ryknild Street Roman Road (RM18) to Alcester and Lichfield turns off to the left, its route now lost in fields. Then a very strange thing, for the Fosse Way, happens. At the junction with the A424 , we turn to head north. As we pass through Stow, the first of a series of wobbles starts to send us back to our true North-East course, which takes us through the beautiful town of Moreton-in-the-Marsh where we cross the A44 , and on into Warwickshire. We cross the A3400 near Tredington and then pass through Halford. Just north of this village, we come to an almost triangular roundabout, where the A429 finally releases the Fosse Way, and the B4455 takes over.

This section of the road is great fun, with only the odd roundabout or staggered crossroads separating the great long (hilly) straights. We pass over the M40 but otherwise keep going north-east until we reach Eathorpe. Here, it appears that the grounds of the large manor house (I am doing this from Google Earth now, so feel free to correct with local knowledge) have been extended, pushing the modern road away to the east of the course of the Fosse. Then, as we cross the A423 at Princethorpe, modern traffic levels have dictated a series of new junctions, to avoid the old 'fiveways'. The Fosse is not so straight now, wiggling as it crosses the A45 and then reaches the A428 . For a few metres this road takes up the reins, but then marks in the fields show the true route of the Fosse, soon reclaimed by the B4455 .

As we approach Brinklow, the B4455 turns sharp left into the village, but the Fosse continues ahead, through the fields to be picked up once more, first by the B4428 and then the B4455 when the two roads diverge again. The M6 is crossed, and then on through open countryside to Watling Street , the A5 at High Cross. 5e: High Cross to Leicester 11½ miles Here stood the Roman fort and settlement of Venonis . After crossing Watling Street the Roman road is followed by a long track - part of the Leicestershire round - to be met by the B4114 at Stoney Bridge. It is then followed by the B road through Narborough to the A5460 at Brauston, from where it continues to reach the west bank of the River Soar in Leicester . Having crossed the river the road enters the Roman town of Ratae Corieltavorum . Ratae was also the crossing point for the RM57 Roman road from Godmachester on Ermine Street to Mancetter on Watling Street .

5f: Leicester to Lincoln 48¾ miles The Fosse Way left Ratae by the north gate and, after a short distance, is picked up by the A607 to Thurmaston where it becomes unclassified streets and on through Syston to be joined by the A46 at Lewin Bridge ( SK621130 ) after crossing the A607. It then heads for Six Hills where a Roman road ( RM58 ) forks off north east to Grantham and Ermine Street . Two miles further on is Vernementum (Willoughby-on-the-Wolds). Here the Roman road from Trent Lock ( RM182 ) may have met the Fosse Way. Further on the road and the A46 cross the A606 (GSJ) and ancient and modern make a new alignment slightly to the east. From here to Lincoln the A46 has been significantly improved and the Roman road is either sidetracked or buried beneath the new work.

Next stop is the Roman settlement of Margidumun at Castle Hill by the A6097 / B692 roundabout, followed a few miles further on by the settlement of Ad Pontem at East Stoke ( SK752496 ). The Latin place name refers, of course, to the settlement's close proximity to the Trent. The final Roman settlement on the A46 (or rather a few yards from it) is north of Newark at Brough ( Crococalana - SK835584 ). The A46 continues to follow the ancient road until it turns onto the bypass at Hykeham Roundabout where it's taken up by the B1434 to Bracebridge. Here it crossed the river Witham and was joined by Ermine Street , roads RM260 and RM262 before entering the Roman city of Lindum Colonia (aka Lincoln ). Fosse Way Roman Lincolnshire - Lincolnshire.org Five Dog Friendly Cottages in Lincolnshire Roman Lincolnshire "The Romans occupied Lincolnshire for over three centuries, building many forts across the county at Ancaster, Caistor, Louth, Stamford and Tattershall" The Romans occupied Lincolnshire for over three centuries.

They built many forts across the county, including at Ancaster, Caistor, Louth, Stamford and Tattershall. The City of Lincoln, known as Lindum Colonia, became one of most important Roman garrison towns in England and, after York, was the second most northerly Roman outpost in England. It was awarded the prestigious status of being a Colonia (a settlement for retired Roman soldiers) and soon became a hub of political and cultural activities. A huge Roman Forum occupied much of what is now the Bailgate area of the city. You can still see markers depicting the exact location of the forum’s impressive colonnade. Lincoln also has one of the country’s largest surviving non-defensive Roman Walls (Mint Wall) and the only Roman Arch that is still open to traffic (Newport Arch). Roman Transport Roads Two of England’s two most important Roman roads passed through Lincolnshire and connected with each other in Lincoln/Lindum Colonia. Ermine Street, from London to York, stretched from Great Casterton/Stamford in the south of the county, to Winteringham on the banks of the Humber.

Although little is left of the original Ermine Street, you can still see the famous straight line taken by all Roman roads on stretches of the A15 between Lincoln and Brigg, and the B6403 between Colsterworth and Ancaster. Lincoln’s very long High Street is part of Ermine Street. Fosse Way connected Lincoln with Exeter. Today’s A46 follows the route that Fosse Way took as it headed south-west across the country. Canals As with Ermine Street and Fosse Way, the Romans built canals that traversed from north to south, and east to west, across Lincolnshire. The Fosse Dyke Canal was built to link Lincoln with the Rivers Trent and Humber, and subsequently to the North Sea. The Fosse Dyke Canal joins the River Trent at Torksey Lock. The Car Dyke runs from the River Witham near Lincoln to the River Cam near Cambridge (and from there, across the Fenlands to the Wash). Author Information There are several excellent tours of Lincoln Cathedral and all are inclu...

Places to stay nearby Fosse Way Fosse Way Roman Britain, with the Fosse Way in red Fosse Way from the top of Brinklow Castle, Warwickshire The Fosse Way was a Roman road in England that linked Exeter ( Isca Dumnoniorum) in South West England to Lincoln ( Lindum Colonia) in the East Midlands, via Ilchester ( Lindinis), Bath ( Aquae Sulis), Cirencester ( Corinium) and Leicester ( Ratae Corieltauvorum). It joined Akeman Street and Ermin Way at Cirencester, crossed Watling Street at Venonis ( High Cross) south of Leicester, and joined Ermine Street at Lincoln. The word Fosse is derived from the Latin fossa, meaning ditch. For the first few decades after the Roman invasion of Britain in AD 43, the Fosse Way marked the western frontier of Roman rule. It is possible that the road began as a defensive ditch that was later filled in and converted into a road, or possibly a defensive ditch ran alongside the road for at least some of its length. The Fosse Way is the only Roman road in Britain to retain its original Latin name.

Most others were named by the Saxons, centuries after the Romans left Britain. It is remarkable for its extremely direct route: from Lincoln to Ilchester in Somerset, a distance of 182 miles, it is never more than six miles from a straight line. Today's route Many sections of the Fosse Way form parts of modern roads and lanes, and parish, district or county boundaries. Several place names on the route have the suffix -cester or -chester, which is from the Latin castra meaning military camp. Some settlements are named after the road itself, such as Fosse-, or -on-Fosse, while others have a more generic form, such as Street, Strete, -le-Street, Stratton, Stretton, Stratford, and Stretford, from the Latin strata, meaning paved road. Lincoln to Leicester Between Lincoln and Leicester the A46 follows the route of the Fosse Way. The A46 deviates from Fosse Way at East Goscote, to follow the Leicester Western Bypass.

The original alignment is still visible, as an unclassified road called Fosse Way passes through Syston, continuing as the minor road Melton Road through Thurmaston, before merging with the A607 (the old A46), continuing into the city centre on the old alignment, first as Melton Road then Belgrave Road and Belgrave Gate. The alignment terminates at the Clock Tower, and picks up again at Narborough Road (the A5460), on the other side of the River Soar. Leicester to Cirencester South of Leicester, apart from a short deviation near Narborough where the original course is no longer visible, the B4114 (the A46 until renumbered on the building of the M69) follows the route. A couple of miles north of the A5, the B4114 diverges from the line of the Fosse Way to pass through the village of Sharnford. For two miles the route of the Fosse Way is followed by a minor road which, although single track, runs along a much wider and slightly domed strip of land with deep ditches either side (the agger).

The modern road ends at a picnic site car park, and a further mile and a half southwards can be explored on foot. The junction with Watling Street , now the A5, is at High Cross (Roman name Venonis). Watling Street is the the county boundary between Leicestershire and Warwickshire. The Fosse Way follows the B4455 across Warwickshire, through Street Ashton, Stretton-under-Fosse, Stretton-on-Dunsmore, and the site of a Roman town near Chesterton , until it joins the A429 near the boundary with Gloucestershire. The route then follows the A429 through Stretton-on-Fosse, Moreton-in-Marsh, Stow-on-the-Wold, Northleach and Fossebridge, to Cirencester, where it crosses Akeman Street and Ermin Way. Cirencester to Bath South of Cirencester the Fosse Way follows a short section of the A433, then goes cross country, following the county boundary between Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, across the old airfield at RAF Kemble, then follows fragmented sections of country lanes.

It passes near the Iron Age hill fort of Bury Camp and another section of the county boundary, before dropping through Batheaston and into Bath back onto the A46. Bath to Ilchester Between Bath and Shepton Mallet the line of the Fosse Way follows parts of the A367, through Radstock and Stratton-on-the-Fosse. It runs across open country and farm tracks parallel to the A37 north of Shepton Mallet, near the Iron Age hill fort of Maesbury. At Beacon Hill south of Oakhill, it crossed the Roman road along the Mendip ridgeway from Old Sarum to the lead and silver mines at Charterhouse. The Fosse Way passes through the eastern suburbs of Shepton Mallet on a short stretch of the A361 to Cannard's Grave, where it picks up the A37. The Fosse Way follows the A37 through Street-on-the-Fosse and Lydford-on-Fosse on a direct route to Ilchester. The route leaves the A37 at the A303 junction just north of Ilchester, and follows a small track, before picking up the B3151 through the town.

The Roman road from Ilchester to Dorchester, Dorset continues on the line of A37 through Yeovil to the south east. Other minor Roman roads lead from Ilchester and Lydford-on-Fosse towards Street and the A39 route along the Polden Hills, leading to Roman salt works on the Somerset Levels, and ports at Combwich, Crandon Bridge and Highbridge. Ilchester to Exeter After Ilchester the Fosse Way follows a section of the A303 under the ramparts of the Iron Age hill fort of Ham Hill, occupied by the Second Legion after conquest of the Durotriges in Dorset. The alignment leaves major roads after Petherton Bridge over the River Parrett, and follows country lanes to Over Stratton and Dinnington, where members of the Channel 4 television programme Time Team recently uncovered a mosaic next to the road. The route crosses a stream called Stretford Water, climbs the ridge, and follows a short section of the A30 at Windwhistle Hill.

Then it turns on to the B3167 through the hamlets of Street and Perry Street, joins the A358, crosses the River Axe at what used to be called Stratford (now called Weycroft), and on to Axminster. Now we come to the difficult question of where the Fosse Way ends. There are further alignments on the A358 at Ball's Farm and Musbury south of Axminster, which imply a Roman road did continue along the River Axe toward Axmouth and Seaton. These sections are labelled Fosse Way on Ordnance Survey maps. However, the main route for Exeter would have followed the Dorchester road west from Axminster to Honiton. The crossroads in Axminster was controlled by a Roman fort at Woodbury Farm, now on the southern edge of the town. The route to the west crosses the Rivers Axe and Yarty to Kilmington, continuing on segments of the A35 and minor local lanes to Honiton. From Honiton the route leads south-west along the old A30, to Strete Ralegh, where there is a short break, then a clear alignment along a minor road towards Exeter.

It is also likely that one or more side roads split from the Fosse Way at Lopen Head or Dinnington, passing around Ilminster, then following the line of the current A303/A30 from Horton to Honiton. For example, there are villages called Crock Street and Street Ash on or near these routes. So in the later years of Roman occupation, there would probably have been a choice of routes from Ilchester to Honiton. Retrieved from " " The Schools Wikipedia is sponsored by SOS Children , and is a hand-chosen selection of article versions from the English Wikipedia edited only by deletion (see for details of authors and sources). The articles are available under the Fosse Way | Roman road, England, United Kingdom | Britannica.com Roman road, England, United Kingdom Written By: London Underground Fosse Way, major Roman road that traversed Britain from southwest to northeast.

It ran from the mouth of the River Axe in Devon by Axminster and Ilchester (Lindinae) to Bath (Aquae Sulis) and Cirencester , thence straight for 60 miles (100 km) to High Cross (Venonae), where it intersected Watling Street , and on to Leicester (Ratae). After crossing the River Trent near Newark , it reached Ermine Street south of Lincoln (Lindum). It was probably laid as a military road along the temporary frontier reached in the Roman conquest before ad 47. Fosse Way, near Brinklow, Warwickshire, England. Snowmanradio in United Kingdom: The conquest By the year 47, when Plautius was succeeded as commanding officer by Ostorius Scapula, a frontier had been established from Exeter to the Humber, based on the road known as the Fosse Way; from this fact it appears that Claudius did not plan the annexation of the whole island but only of the arable southeast. The intransigence of the tribes of Wales, spurred on by Caratacus, however, caused...

in Cirencester Cirencester occupies the site of the Romano-British town Corinium, capital of the Dobuni tribe, at the junction of the important Roman and British roads known as Fosse Way, Ermine Street, and Akeman Street. The walls enclosed a town of 240 acres (100 hectares), and remains of a basilica, an amphitheatre, and many rich villas have been discovered. The town was the largest in Roman Britain after... 2 References found in Britannica Articles Assorted References significance in British history (in United Kingdom: The conquest ) External Links Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article! Contact our editors with your feedback. MEDIA FOR: You have successfully emailed this. Error when sending the email. Try again later. Edit Mode Roman road, England, United Kingdom Tips for Editing Submit Tips For Editing We welcome suggested improvements to any of our articles. You can make it easier for us to review and, hopefully, publish your contribution by keeping a few points in mind. Encyclopædia Britannica articles are written in a neutral objective tone for a general audience. You may find it helpful to search within the site to see how similar or related subjects are covered.

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Question: The Fosse way runs southwest from Lincoln to which city?
Answer: EXETER