h2g2 - Watling Street - A Journey through Roman Britain - Edited Entry Watling Street | The Fosse Way | Ermine Street This is a journey along Watling Street, the most important Roman road which runs East to West across Great Britain. 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. However, the upper classes would use the better tabernae; these began as houses on the roadside offering a service similar to B&Bs (bed and breakfasts) today. Travellers also needed sufficient money to pay the various tolls along the way. Watling Street starts in Dover (Portus Dubris) or Richborough (Rutupiae), from where it travels north-east to London (Londinium), via St Albans ( Verulamium ), High Cross (Venonis) to Wroxeter (Virconium), where it crosses the river Severn 1 . After the river crossing, the road makes a sharp southern turn, necessary to complete the journey south to Leintwardine (Bravonium).

As it continues south, Watling Street becomes Stone Street and continues through to Usk (Burrium) and Caerleon (Iscia Silurum), a major seaport on the river Usk with access to the river Severn and the sea. This would suggest trade goods entered Roman Britain from both ends of this major thoroughfare and were distributed throughout Britain, and on to the rest of the Roman world. The Start of Watling Street Watling Street has two starting points: one at Dover (Portus Dubris) and the other at Richborough (Rutupiae); both are on the Kent coast, and were originally forts and ports. Richborough (Rutupiae) - The original landing site of the 43 AD invasion by Claudius and important enough for a Triumphal Arch to be erected at the fort to commemorate the landing. The Arch has long since gone but the foundations have been located. Dover (Portus Dubris) - The younger fort (but not by much) and clearly the better placed as the town flourished and developed into a prosperous town and a major port.

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 28 settlements, ranging from the grand to the rural. Some of these settlements existed just to serve the garrison of the fort near where they were built, however, they also provided shelter to the weary travellers on Watling Street. The journey on foot will take a minimum of about 12 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 points on the journey is the 33 miles (one day's travel) between Kenchester (Magnis) and Brecon Gaer (Y Gaer). As wagons and carts could be as slow as eight miles a day, travellers could use the system of mansios, cauponae and tabernae. All distances given are starting from Dover; if starting from Richborough simply deduct three miles from any total mileage figure given. A Key To The Condition Of The Towns This shows what condition each of the towns and sites mentioned below are in today.

Nothing now visible or built over Building platforms, mounds and crop marks Some ruins are visible above ground Visible site with museum support A major site and tourist attraction Richborough Translation: 'The muddy estuary' Condition: 4 The town of Richborough was founded on the original landing site of the 43 AD invasion by Claudius and was important enough for a triumphal arch to be erected at the town to commemorate the landing and the capitulation of the local British tribal leaders. Entering and passing through the arch signified formal entry into Roman Britain. Although the inscription from Richborough's arch has sadly not survived, it was reported to have been a duplicate of the one which was found on the arches in Rome and Boulogne (Claudius's departure point for Britain). The best preserved inscription is that on the arch in Rome. For Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, son of Drusus, High Priest, holding tribunician power for the eleventh time, Consul for the fifth time, hailed Imperator in the field twenty-two times, Censor, Father of his country.

The Senate and the People of Rome have dedicated this because he accepted the surrender of eleven British tribal leaders, subdued without any losses, the first to reduce barbarian tribes across the Ocean to the rule of the Roman people 2 TI(berio) CLAV(dio Drvsi Filio Cae)SARI AVGV(sto Germani)CO PONTIFIC(i Maximo Tribvnicia Potes)TAT(e) XI CO(n)S(vli) V IM(p xxii Censori Patri Pa)TRIAE SENATVS PO(pvlvsque) RO(manvs q)VOD REGES BRIT(annorvm) XI D(evictos sine) VLLA IACTVR(a in deditionem accepterit) GENTESQVE B(arbaras trans oceanvm) PRIMVS INDICI(onem popvli Romani redegerit) 3 Richborough was a large settlement around the fort and the town grew into a competitor of Dover. A mansio was set up in the town. A civic centre, an amphitheatre, baths and temples were all built in the town. Well-paved steets linked these buildings. The private homes were built with timber and stone.

Mosaic floors and painted plasterwork have been found, sadly now all ruined. The town was famous throughout the Empire for the quality of its oyster beds. Roads off Watling Street at this location: Journey on to the South to the Worth Temple: 3 miles, and on to Dover (Portus Dubris): 11 miles On Watling Street continue west to Canterbury (Durobrivae): 11 miles Dover Translation: 'Port on the Dubris River' Condition: 5 Dover was founded as the port closest to the Empire at the mouth of the river Dour. The first garrison was the fleet Classis Britannica, appointed to patrol the waters around Britain and guard the channel. The port was marked by a Pharos 4 on each side of the harbour mouth. The town had a basilica, forum, temples and baths. The homes were of timber and stone and mosaic floors and painted plasterwork were not uncommon. The town also had a very busy trading area. Total so far: 0 miles.

Roads off Watling Street at this location: To the North: Richborough (Rutupiae) On Watling Street continue west to Canterbury (Durovernum Cantiacorum): 14 miles Canterbury Translation: 'The walled town near the alder swamp' Condition: 4 Canterbury was first founded as a fort in 43 AD. The town was then given the status of civitas 5 in 80 AD. It was at this point the town's expansion began. With good connections to the Empire (especially Gaul across the Channel), 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 and brick, tile and pottery production were all established in the town. Total so far: 14 miles.

Roads off Watling Street at this minor road junction: To the North: Reculver (Regulbium) To the East: Richborough (Rutupiae) To the South: Lympne (Portus Lemanis) On Watling Street continue west to Ospringe/Faversham (Durolevum): 11 miles Ospringe/Faversham Translation: 'A stronghold by the clear stream' Condition: 3 Ospringe was a small settlement founded to the south of Watling Street. It was built as a defended settlement with a ditch and earth and timber ramparts. It had timber-framed housing and a few trade buildings and shops. The streets were mainly paved and the town had some impressive stone buildings that were possibly temples. There was a trade in iron in the town from a local mine at Brenley. From here, the road travels through some of the richest farmland in Britain; either side of Watling Street a farm or villa can be found about every mile or so, including some rich and important estates . Total so far: 25 miles.

To continue your journey: On Watling Street continue west to Rochester (Durobrivis): 17 miles Rochester Translation: 'The walled town with a bridge' Condition: 2 Rochester is situated at the first suitable inland point where a bridge could be built, clear of the floodplain and with solid banks on either side of the river Medway. The Latin name of the town Durobrivae means 'the walled town with a bridge' or 'fort with or near a bridge'. This confirms the town had a bridge crossing from the beginning of the Roman period. The Mansio for the town was sited to the northern side of Watling Street in a hamlet known as Seddingbourne - 'Hamlet beside the Creek' (Sittingbourne today). Total so far: 42 miles. To continue your journey: On Watling Street, walk west to Springhead (Vagniacis) 9 miles Springhead Translation: 'A place of marshes' Condition: 2 Springhead was both an important settlement and a major religious centre. The town was the site of a pool and springs dedicated to the deity Vagniacis.

The pool was enclosed by a walled sanctuary with ten or more temples surrounding it. Of the five main temples, two were built with a square floor plan and three had a rectangular plan. They were all built alongside Watling Street. There was a local pottery industry near the town. The settlement consisted of stone and timber-framed housing and a few stone municipal buildings, with paved streets, inns and bathhouses. The town also had a small port on the Ebbsfleet river. The landmark on this part of the trip is the villa estate at Lullingstone . The estate is set in the landscape with many smaller farms and villas. It was started in 75 AD and was built on the banks of the river Darneth. The road passes to the north of Lullingstone. Total so far: 51 miles. To continue your journey: On Watling Street continue west to Crayford (Noviomagus): 7 miles Crayford Translation: 'The new town of the Cantiaci' Condition: 1 Crayford was a trading settlement built alongside Watling Street. The settlement consisted of timber-framed housing and a few stone municipal buildings. The streets were mainly paved. Total so far: 58 miles.

To continue your journey: On Watling Street continue west to London (Londinium): 12 miles London Translation: 'The town of Lugh' Condition: 5 Founded in 43 AD, London was originally a fort. It was constructed at a suitable point on the Thames where a bridge could be built using the islands in the river. Protected by substantial walls and a legionary fort, Londinium's houses were mostly built from stone. It had many fine stone municipal buildings, including a governor's palace, theatres and temples. The streets were mainly paved. The town achieved the status of provincial capital in 190 AD. Total so far: 70 miles.

Roads off Watling Street at this important road junction: To the north-west: Lincoln (Lindum) To the north-east: Chelmsford (Caesaromagus), Colchester (Camulodunum), Baylim House (Combretovium) and Castor St Edmunds (Venta Icenorum) To the south: Lympne (Portus Lemanis) and Chichester (Noviomagus) On Watling Street leaving the city by the Aldersgate, continue north-west to Brockley Hill (Sulloniacis): 22 miles Brockley Hill Translation: 'The Sulh stream' Condition: 1 The settlement developed around a legionary fort in approximately 45 AD. Brockely Hill was a very small trading settlement built alongside Watling Street. Total so far: 92 miles. To continue your journey: On Watling Street continue north-west to St Albans (Verulamium): 8 miles St Albans Translation: 'The town above the marsh' Condition: 5 Built alongside the river Ver, Verulamium 6 was founded in 40 AD, and was originally a fort.

The town was given the status of Municipium in 49 AD. It was enclosed by a wall and ditch and had a fine forum, a basilica and a theatre. The streets were paved or cobbled. Total so far: 100 miles. From here on this minor road junction you could journey on towards: The West: Colchester (Camulodunum) On Watling Street continue north-west to Dunstable (Durocobrivis): 9 miles Dunstable Translation: 'The hill market' Condition: 1 Dunstable was founded in 46 AD, as a way station at a point where Watling Street crossed the Icknield Way. This grew into a small market town and was named Durocobrivis. Dunstable was a small settlement consisting of timber-framed housing and buildings and mainly paved streets. Total so far: 109 miles.

Roads off Watling Street at this important road junction: To the North-West: Baldock (On the Icknield Way) To the North:Godmanchester (Dunovigutum) To the South: Marlborough (Canelio) and North Church (on the Icknield Way) On Watling Street continue north-west to Dropshort (Magiovnium): 12 miles Dropshort/Little Brickhill Translation: 'Great river plain' Condition: 1 Founded in 49 AD as a Roman fort, Dropshort was built at a point where Watling Street crossed the River Ouzel. This grew into a small oval settlement defended by earth ramparts. Total so far: 121 miles. To continue your journey: On Watling Street continue north-west to Towcester (Lactodurum): 17 miles Towcester Translation: 'The camp on the Tove river' Condition: 3 Towcester was first founded in 45 AD, on a bend of the river Tove. It was built on the south side of the river's bank and marked a point where a ford allows Watling Street to cross the Tove.

A defended 7 settlement, it consisted mainly of timber-framed housing and a few stone municipal buildings. The streets were mainly paved. As you travel though the countryside dotted with farms on your way to Whilton Lodge, keep your eyes peeled for Whitehall Villa (the largest villa in the area) and its farm about eight miles out of Towcester. Total so far: 138 miles. Congratulations - you have made it to what is roughly the half way point on the Watling Street part of the journey. Roads off Watling Street at this important road junction: To the South: Akerman Street to Alchester and Dorchester On Watling Street continue north-west to Whiton Lodge (Bannavena): 12 miles Whilton Lodge Translation: 'A gap in the hills' Condition: 2 Bannaventa was possibly founded before the arrival of the Romans in Britain. It was built as a defended settlement with earth and timber ramparts and a ditch. It was built alongside Watling Street in a prosperous agricultural area. The important villa estate of Lockleys is located ten miles to the north of this point of Watling Street 8 . The settlement consisted of timber-framed housing and a few stone municipal buildings.

The streets were mainly paved. Total so far: 150 miles. Roads off Watling Street at this minor road junction: To the West: Northampton On Watling Street continue north-west to Caves Inn (Tripontium): 11 miles Caves Inn Translation: 'The town with three bridges' Condition: 2 Tripontium was possibly founded by the Romans in 54 AD. It was built as a defended settlement with a ditch and earth and timber ramparts. It was named after the three nearby bridges . Tripontium was built to defend a crossing of the Avon. The river protected the settlement to the south east. The Dow bridge spanned the river (the first bridge). There was a stream to the south east flowing into the Avon. This was spanned by another bridge into the town (the second bridge). The river Swift guarded the north western approaches to the town and access to Tripontium was via a road bridge (the third bridge). Tripontium was a settlement consisting of timber-framed housing, a few stone municipal buildings and mainly paved streets. Total so far: 161 miles.

To continue your journey: On Watling Street continue north-west to High Cross (Venonis):7 miles High Cross Translation: 'Place of poison plants' Condition: 2 High Cross was founded before the arrival of the Romans in Britain, and was built as a defended settlement with a ditch and earth and timber ramparts. It was constructed at the junction of Watling Street and the Fosse Way and consisted of a settlement of timber-framed housing, a few trade buildings and mainly paved streets. Total so far: 168 miles. You're doing well - this is approximately the half way point of the journey to Caerleon (Iscia Silurum).

The crossroads with the Fosse Way Roads off Watling Street at this important road junction: To the North: Leicester (Ratae), East Stoke (Adronten) and Lincoln (Lindum) To the South: Cirencester (Corinium) and Illchester (Lindinis) On Watling Street continue north-west to Mancetter (Mandvessedum): 10 miles The Battle of Watling Street The Roman Governor, Gaius Suetonius Paulinus and a force of 10,000 men defeated Boudicca and her army of 80,000 in this area in 60 AD. The scattered traces of the burial mounds of the 80,000 Iceni who were killed can still be seen today. Mancetter Translation: 'The place of war chariots' Condition: 2 Mancetter was at first a defended settlement with a ditch and earth and timber ramparts. It was built at the junction of Watling Street and the river Anker. Mancetter was a prosperous settlement of timber framed and stone housing, stone built municipal buildings, trade buildings, warehouses and paved streets.

The town was the centre for a pottery producing industry that supplied the whole province. There were over 20 pottery kilns sited to the south of the town, and it was the home town of the potter Icotasgus, amongst others. There is also evidence of the manufacture and trade of glassware. Total so far: 178 miles. Roads off Watling Street at this location: To the North-East: Leicester (Ratae) 9 On Watling Street continue north-west to Wall (Letocetum): 15 miles Wall Translation: 'The grey woodlands' Condition: 3 Watling Street passes east to west through this town which was founded in 45 AD. The settlement was defended with ditches and earth and timber ramparts. Letoceto had a wide variety of housing, several temples, an amphitheatre, stone municipal buildings, and mainly paved streets. To the east of the town, there was a junction of Watling Street and Ryknield Street. The town was a major market for trade between the local tries of the Coratani 'from the Leicester area' and the Cornovii 'from the Wroxeter area'.

Total so far: 193 miles. The crossroads with the Icknield Way. Roads off Watling Street at this important road junction: To the North: Manchester (Mancunium) and Derby To the South: Cirencester (Glevum) On Watling Street continue north-west to Water Eaton (Pennocruoio): 14 miles Water Eaton Translation: 'Town on the end of a ridge' Condition: 1 Watling Street passes east to west through Water Easton, which was founded at first as a way station and situated on an important road junction near the river Penk. Water Eaton was a defended settlement with earth and timber ramparts and triple ditches. It had a wide variety of housing, some municipal buildings, and paved streets. There was a junction of Watling Street and the Icknield Way to the east of the town; two military roads also joined Watling Street here. Total so far 207 miles. The crossroads with the Icknield Way.

Roads off Watling Street at this important road junction: To the North-West: Whitchurch (Mediolan) To the South: Droitwich (Salinae), Gloucester (Glevum) and Bath (Aquae Sulis) On Watling Street continue north-west to Redhill (Uxacona): 12 miles Redhill Translation: 'The Red Hill' Condition: 1 Redhill was founded as a fort and signal station and was situated on the highest part of Watling Street. It was a defended settlement with earth and timber ramparts and ditches. Total so far: 219 miles. To continue your journey: On Watling Street continue north-west to Wroxeter (Virconium): 11 miles Wroxeter Translation: 'The town of Vinco' Condition: 5 Wroxeter was first founded as a fort in about 58 AD. It developed into a walled town with a port. Access to the sea was via the upper reaches of the river Severn. The town had a wide variety of quality housing, several temples, a theatre, stone municipal buildings and mainly paved streets. The city produced and traded pottery , salt 10 and iron.

Total so far: 230 miles. Roads off Watling Street at this minor road junction: To the North: Whitchurch (Mediolan) On Watling Street continue south to the Stratford Bridge Camp: 19 miles The Stratford Bridge Camp - Roman Fort This was a Roman fort and garrison. Stratford Bridge was located on the junction of the road known as the Hen Ffordd 11 and the route south to Forden Gaer, Greensford and the Brecon Roman road junction. There was basic accommodation for the traveller and a small basic trading settlement which catered for military traffic in the area. Total so far: 249 miles. Roads off Watling Street at this minor road junction: To the North: Whitchurch (Mediolan) The junction with the Hen Ffordd on its route south to Brecon Gaer (Y Gaer) On Watling Street continue south to Leintwardine (Bravonium): 6 miles Leintwardine Translation: 'The town of the Quern' Condition: 2 Leintwardine was founded in 70 AD, initially as a vicus.

A vicus (plural - vici) was a settlement that developed adjacent to an official Roman establishment, usually a fort. The Roman fort and garrison were close to the settlement which was situated north of the Teme river. This fortified town had a wide variety of housing, some municipal buildings, temples to the god Jupiter and the Divine Emperors, a trading centre with traders shops and paved streets. Total so far: 255 miles. To continue your journey: On Watling Street continue south to Kenchester (Magnis): 21 miles Kenchester Translation: 'The place of rocks' Condition: 2 Kenchester was from the first a defended settlement with a ditch and earth and timber ramparts. It was built at the terminus of Watling Street and marked the start of Stone Street which led south into Wales and to the coast. Kenchester was a prosperous settlement of timber framed and stone housing, paved streets, stone built municipal buildings including baths, trade buildings, shops, workshops and warehouses. Total so far: 276 miles.

From here on this major road terminus you could journey on to: On Stone Street continue south to Brecon Gaer (Y Gaer): 33 miles Stone Street To Caerleon Translation: 'The camp' Condition: 2 Known as the fiveways road junction, Brecon Gaer was the hub of network of minor routes which served this part of Wales. A defended settlement near the river Honddu, with a wide variety of housing, a temple, a trading centre, stone municipal buildings, and mainly paved streets. Facilities for the traveller were provided. Total so far: 309 miles, 276 miles on Watling Street and 33 miles on Stone Street. To continue your journey: On Stone Street continue south to The Fort at Pen-Y-Gaer: 11 miles The Roman Fort at Pen-Y-Gaer Total so far: 320 miles, 276 miles on Watling Street and 44 miles on Stone Street.

To continue your journey: On Stone Street continue south to The Fort at Abergavenny: 9 miles The Roman fort at Abergavenny Total so far: 329 miles, 276 miles on Watling Street and 53 miles on Stone Street. To continue your journey: On Stone Street continue south to Usk (Burrium): 10 miles Usk Translation: 'The place of knobs or hills' Condition: 3 Usk was a defended settlement with a wide variety of housing, a busy market and a trading centre. There were several temples, an amphitheatre, good stone municipal buildings, and mainly paved streets. Total so far: 339 miles, 276 miles on Watling Street and 63 miles on Stone Street. To continue your journey: On Stone Street continue south to Caerleon (Iscia Silurum): 6 miles Caerleon Translation: 'The waterside settlement of the Silures' Condition: 5 Caerleon was founded in about 75 AD on the site of an Iron Age hill fort as a Roman legionary fortress for the Legio II Augusta.

It was known as Usk of the Silures, as the Silures were the Celtic tribe of that area. Caerleon was a fairly prosperous town with temples to Jupiter, Diana and Fortuna. Altars have been found dedicated to Mithras and Mercurius. Caerleon was a walled town with a wide variety of housing, several temples, an amphitheatre, stone municipal buildings, and mainly paved streets. You have now completed your journey! You travelled 345 miles: 276 miles on Watling Street and 69 miles on Stone Street. Notes on Roman Roads A Roman mile is 1,000 paces and a milestone was set up to mark each mile. Each milestone had a dedication to the Emperor of the day. At the high of the expansion of the Empire, roads were built at the rate of 1 kilometre every day. 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 stright 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 Until the first bridge was built, the River Severn was a major barrier to East - West travel in Britain at this time. 2 Translation taken from 3 Although the Roman senate granted permission for two triumphal arches to be built in Rome and Boulogne, three were built in Rome, Boulogne and Richborough. There are reports of the same inscription on arches in Aphrodisias in Turkey and the western gate of the city of Colchester, giving a total of five dedications spanning the Empire. 4 A Lighthouse. 5 Civitas: District or tribal capital, an administrative area often run by the local Celts under the supervision of the Roman central administration (in this case London). The Civitas was run by elected councillors and magistrates. The ranking of Roman towns were (in ascending order of importance): Civitas, Municipium, Colonia. 6 One of the three largest towns in Roman Britain. The capital of Prince Togodumnus in 40 AD. 7 Timber ramparts supported by banks of earth and surrounded by ditches.

8 'A gap in the hills', that was later used by the builders of a canal, a railway and the M1. It is now called the Watford Gap. 9 There are three Roman names sourced: Ratae, Ratae Corion Eltauori or Ratae Corieltauvorum. Most maps seem to favour plain Ratae, but remember the Roman names can vary if you are trying to locate Leicester on a map. 10 Produced in the nearby Droitwich area. 11 'Hen Ffordd' - is the Welsh for 'old road' or 'old way'. A2, Watling St (C) N Chadwick :: Geograph Britain and Ireland A2 Road The A2 runs from Borough in London to Dover, through Kent, formerly known as the Dover Road or Great Dover Road. It follows roughly the course of the Roman Watling Street and historically it has always been an important road because it connects London with Canterbury and the port of Dover. In the 18th and 19th century it was turnpiked and given its present designation in the 1920s.

Watling Street Watling Street is the name given to an ancient trackway in England and Wales that was first used by the Britons mainly between the modern cities of Canterbury and St Albans. The Romans later paved the route from London to the port of Dover. Its route is now covered by the A2 road from Dover to London, and the A5 road from London to Wroxeter. Watling Street : Map (The Full Wiki) The Full Wiki Map showing all locations mentioned on Wikipedia article: Watling Street is the name given to an ancient trackway in England and St Albans . The Romans later paved the route, part of which is identified on the Antonine Itinerary as Iter III: "Item a Londinio ad portum Dubris" - from London to the port of Dover . The name derives from the Old English Wæcelinga Stræt, which has come to be understood as the A2 road from Dover to London, and then the A5 road from London to Wroxeter . Originally the word "street" simply meant a paved road (Latin: "via strata"), and did not have the modern association with populated areas.

History British The Roman road followed the broad, grassy trackway already used by the Britons for many hundreds of years, although the newer road was made to follow a more direct course. It led from Richborough in the south-east by way of a ford of the Thames at present-day Westminster , where one section went on to Holyhead and another, by way of Chester , on towards Scotland. Roman Roman Britain, with the route of Watling Street in red A Roman road recorded in the Antonine Itinerary as "Iter III" linked London and Dover. The last section of the long Iter II route from Hadrian's Wall in Kent ) on the southeast coast of England . While another section of Iter II linked Wroxeter to Chester, and other roads were built into north Wales and central Wales, these are not generally considered to be part of Watling Street. Thus the Roman routes which comprise Watling Street are all of Iter III and the middle-southern section of Iter II. Main section The main section of the road is that from Dover to Wroxeter. It was named Wæcelinga Stræt by the Anglo-Saxons, meaning "the paved road pertaining to the people of Wæcel".

Wæcel could, possibly, be a variation of the Old English word for 'foreigner' which was applied to the Celtic people inhabiting what is now Wales. This place-name element also gave us the name for Wæclingacaester (the early English name for Verulamium) and it seems likely that the road-name was originally applied first to the section between that town and London before being applied to the entire road. A number of ancient names that contain the Old English element stræt testify to the ancient route of Watling Street: Boughton Street and the main Roman legionary base in the south of Roman Wales . Battle of Watling Street Part of the route was the site of the Roman victory at the Battle of Watling Street in 61 AD between the Roman governor Gaius Suetonius Paulinus and the Briton leader Boudica . Danelaw In the 9th century, Watling Street was used as the demarcation line between the Anglo-Saxon and Danish-ruled parts of England. The Treaty of Wedmore required the defeated Danes to withdraw to an area north and east of Watling Street, thus establishing the Danelaw .

Chaucer's Pilgrims Like most of the Roman road network, the Roman paving fell into disrepair when the Romans left Britain, although the route continued to be used for centuries afterwards. It is likely that Chaucer 's pilgrims used Watling Street to travel from Southwark in his Canterbury Tales . Turnpike The road north of London became a Turnpike firstly in 1707 when the section from Fourne hill north of Hockliffe was paved following an Act of Parliament on March 4th 1707. This was the first Turnpike Trust and showed how financially hazardous the undertaking could be. The Fourne hill to Stony Stratford case provides more evidence that Parliament would void undertakers’ rights if they were negligent. The trustees for the Fourne hill to Stony Stratford road borrowed more than 7000 pounds in 1707 and 1708 to improve the road. The creditors, however, claim to have been misinformed regarding the expected revenues from the tolls, and requested in 1709 that a new act extend the term and increase the tolls.

A new act was passed in 1709 extending the term, but the tolls were not increased. It also included a provision that the creditors could take receivership of the tolls if the trustees had not repaid their debts by 1711. Apparently, the trustees were unable to borrow and the creditors took over the tolls. In 1716,Parliament tried to clarify the situation by passing an act that vested authority in the trustees from the 1709 act and another group appointed by the Justices of the Peace for Buckinghamshire. The 1716 act was not amended for its entire term of 23 years, but once it was set to expire,Parliament decided that it would not renew the rights of the existing trustees for the Fourne hill to Stony Stratford road. In 1736, the trustees submitted a petition for an extension of their rights, but it failed to pass and in 1739 their authority ended. In 1740, a new act was passed naming a replacement body of trustees.

In the petition for the new bill, the inhabitants of Buckinghamshire described the road as being ‘ruined.’ This sentiment was affirmed by theMember heading the committee for the bill. The road was re-paved in the early 19th century by Thomas Telford who brought it back into use as a turnpike road for use by mail coaches bringing mail to and from Ireland , his road being extended to the port of Holyhead in Wales . At this time the section south of London became known as the Great Dover Road . The toll system ended in 1875. Modern road Most of the road is still in use today apart from a few sections where it has been diverted. The stretch of the road between London and Dover is today known as the A2 , and the stretch between London and Shrewsbury is today known as the A5 (which now continues to Holyhead ). The sections of the road which pass through Central London are known by a variety of names, including Edgware Road . At Blackheath the Roman road's exact path is uncertain: either diverting towards Deptford Bridge like the modern A2, or staying on a straight line through Greenwich to cross the mouth of Deptford Creek.

Through Milton Keynes , the A5 is diverted onto a new dual-carriageway and Watling Street forms part of the new town's grid system and carries the additional designation V4. Continued use of the name along the ancient road The use of the street name is retained along the ancient road in many places: for instance, to the south east of Roman London and on into Kent (including the towns of Canterbury Roman road | Article about Roman road by The Free Dictionary Roman road | Article about Roman road by The Free Dictionary Also found in: Wikipedia . Roman roads, ancient system of highways linking Rome with its provinces. Their primary purpose was military, but they also were of great commercial importance and brought the distant provinces in touch with the capital. The roads often ran in a straight line, regardless of obstacles, and were efficiently constructed, generally in four layers of materials; the uppermost layer was a pavement of flat, hard stones, concrete, or pebbles set in mortar. Roads were built or rebuilt by the Romans throughout the empire in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Many modern roads are laid out on their routes, and some of the old bridges are still in use. Examples of Roman roads exist near Rome and elsewhere.

In Italy roads led out of Rome in every direction. The most ancient were the Ostiense Road to Ostia at the mouth of the Tiber; the Praenestine Way SE to Praeneste; and the Latin Road or Latin Way to a point near Capua where it later joined the Appian Way Appian Way , Lat. Via Appia, most famous of the Roman roads, built (312 B.C.) under Appius Claudius Caecus. It connected Rome with Capua and was later extended to Beneventum (now Benevento), Tarentum (Taranto), and Brundisium (Brindisi). ..... Click the link for more information. , which was the first of the great highways. The Flaminian Way Flaminian Way , one of the principal Roman roads, the greatest artery from Rome to Cisalpine Gaul. Construction was begun (220 B.C.) by Caius Flaminius. The road ran N from Rome to Narnia (modern Narni), to Mevania (Bevagna), NE to Nuceria (Nocera Umbria), thence N to the Burano ..... Click the link for more information.

was the most important northern route. It ran from Rome NE to Ariminium (Rimini); from that point it was extended (187 B.C.) as the Aemilian Way, which ran in a straight line NW through Bononia (modern Bologna) to the Po at Placentia (Piacenza); later it was extended farther to Mediolanum (Milan). Another northern route was the Aurelian Way from Rome along the Tyrrhenian coast to Pisae (Pisa) and Luna; from there it was extended to Genua (Genoa). The third northern route was the Cassian Way from Rome through Etruria to Faesulae (Fiesole) and Luca (Lucca); near Luca it joined the Aurelian Way. The three roads from Rome to the north were connected with others crossing the Alps by the great Alpine passes—Alpis Cottia (Montgenèvre), Alpis Graia (Little St. Bernard), Alpis Poenina (Great St. Bernard), the Brenner Pass, and others leading into Rhaetia and Noricum.

The chief roads leading from Rome to the regions across the Apennines and to the Adriatic were the Salarian Way to Ancona and the Valerian Way to Aternum (Pescara). There were other roads in Italy, most notable among them the Postumian Way, leading from Genua across the Po valley to Aquileia at the head of the Adriatic. A wide system of roads was also built and rebuilt by the Romans in Britain, mainly for military purposes. The best-known British roads were Ermine Street Ermine Street, Saxon name for the Roman road in Britain that ran from London to Lincoln and York. It was one of the four main highways of Saxon England. The name is derived from the Earningas, a group of people who inhabited an area in Cambridgeshire through which the road ..... Click the link for more information. , Fosse Way Fosse Way , Roman road in England. It apparently ran from Exeter (Isca Dumnoniorum) NE past Bath (Aquae Sulis), Cirencester (Corinium Dobunnorum), and Leicester (Ratae Coritanorum) to Lincoln (Lindum). It intersected Watling Street. .....

Click the link for more information. , Watling Street Watling Street , important ancient road in England, built by the Romans in the course of their military occupation. It ran from London generally north to the intersection with the Fosse Way, c. ..... Click the link for more information. , and the pre-Roman Icknield Street Icknield Street , name for a prehistoric road in England, extending SW from the Wash, along the line of the Chiltern Hills and Berkshire Downs, to Salisbury Plain. ..... Click the link for more information. . Bibliography See T. Ashby, The Roman Campagna in Classical Times (1927, repr. 1970); I. D. Margary, Roman Roads in Britain (2 vol., 1955–57; rev. ed. 1967); V. W. Von Hagen, The Roads that Led to Rome (1967). Mendip Hills References in classic literature ?

It is altogether a place that you won't forget, a place to open a man's soul, and make him prophesy, as he looks down on that great Vale spread out as the garden of the Lord before him, and wave on wave of the mysterious downs behind, and to the right and left the chalk hills running away into the distance, along which he can trace for miles the old Roman road, "the Ridgeway" ("the Rudge," as the country folk call it), keeping straight along the highest back of the hills--such a place as Balak brought Balaam to, and told him to prophesy against the people in the valley beneath. Appendix: Roman Roads | British History Online APPENDIX ROMAN ROADS For ease of reference the two Roman roads in the area are described here and not under the parishes through which they pass. The roads are identified by the numbers given to them by I. D. Margary in Roman Roads in Britain, I (1955). If: WATLING STREET, LILBOURNE – STOW-NINE-CHURCHES (Figs. 155–157).

Watling Street, the main Roman road to London from the N.W., entered the area in the N.W. corner of Lilbourne parish, crossing the R. Avon at the junction of the counties of Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and Leicestershire (SP 543778). The road then climbed southwards out of the Avon valley and ran S.E., exactly straight, for 5 km. across mainly flat ground. Its line is now occupied by the main A5 trunk road which has obliterated all trace of its original form. This section constitutes the county boundary between Warwickshire and Northamptonshire. The next section of the A5, which is now the approach road to the M1 Crick interchange, to the N.E. of the Railway Hotel, Kilsby (SP 569733), swings away from the Roman road alignment. Here for a distance of 350 m. the original agger is well preserved as an embankment, up to 16 m. wide and 1.25 m. high, with a flat top 5 m. across. There are no traces of side ditches. At the N.

end this agger has been damaged by a modern open drain cut into its N.E. edge. Codrington (Roman Roads in Britain (1931), 64), noted that sections through the agger were visible in the side of the ditch but nothing can now be seen. He described them as showing 'gravel a yard deep, with a layer of large cobble stones at the base in the clay sub-soil'. In the 1930s what appeared to be a drain was seen in one of these sections, passing transversely under the agger. It had 'well built vertical walls roofed with flat stones' (Ant. J., 16 (1936), 462–3). From the description this may have been an original drain or culvert but it could alternatively have been part of a post-medieval field drain. Close to this point, at least two burials, thought to be Saxon, have been discovered, one in the centre of the road and one a little to the E. (Crick (6)). During the excavations of the earlier of these burials in 1947 the construction of the Roman road was observed.

The road appeared to have been surfaced with a layer of hard-packed gravel some 0.5 m. deep containing 'larger stones laid roughly in two strips' about 0.57 m. apart, 'where ruts may have been filled in'. Below the gravel was a rough pavement of large stones up to 0.3 m. in diam. on the undisturbed ground surface. No trace of a ditch was noted on the E. side of the road when the excavation was extended in that direction (Rugby School Magazine (1948), 34–7). To the S. the agger is truncated by the main Northampton-Rugby road (A428) which crosses it at right-angles (at SP 570729) and modern draingage work beyond has removed any trace. Even the old trackway which once followed the alignment has gone, and only the Crick-Kilsby parish boundary marks its line. In the 1930s (Ant. J., op. cit.) 'a definite low agger' still existed. Further S. the road appears as a slight terrace-way 10 m.

wide as it begins to climb the steep N.W. slope of a small spur (sp 573725). From there the alignment is followed by a narrow track which runs on the top of a well-marked ridge up to 1.25 m. high and 12 m.–15 m. wide until it reaches a flat area between two small valleys draining N. and S. Here, at a height of 117 m. above OD, the alignment changes very slightly towards the S., but only by some 2 degrees. This point is visible from the last change of alignment near Gibbet Hill, S. of Lutterworth, Leicestershire. On this new alignment the track continues S.E. until it is cut first by the Northampton-Rugby railway and then partly by the M1 motorway N. of the junction of the latter with the M45. Here, for just over 1 km., the motorway cutting has removed all or most of the remains of the Roman road and later tracks following it. Only the parish boundary marks the original alignment. It is almost certain that it was this part of Watling Street, N.

of Watford, which Bridges described in the early 18th century (Hist. of Northants., I (1791), 585). He recorded it as 'rising to near the height of fifteen foot. This bank is above a furlong in length and ten to twelve foot wide. It is composed of gravel, which appears visible on the top'. It is extremely unlikely that the agger was as high as Bridges states, but clearly it was a prominent feature. Beyond the M45 motorway junction the line of the Roman road is again followed by the present A5 trunk road for some 2.5 km. until the Roman town of Bannaventa (Norton (4)) is reached (SP 610649). Along this section the Roman road ran exactly straight, but although the modern road has minor bends within it the width is such that nowhere is the original agger visible on either side. A little to the N.

of the point where the road from Welton to Watford crosses the A5 (SP 595680), the Roman road was described in the late 19th century as being '47–50 feet wide of which 20 feet are flat. The centre appears to have been raised 4 feet to 5 feet 6 inches' (Notes in the Dryden Collection, Central Library, Northampton). However, as by that time the original road had been much altered, it is doubtful whether this is a true description of the Roman road. Close to this point six burials, said to be Anglo-Saxon, were discovered in 1845 on the side of or within the agger (Welton (1)). Another burial, said to be Roman, was discovered further S. in 1976 (SP 608652; Long Buckby (3)). It lay within one of the side ditches of the Roman road. Along this section, the road crosses two small N.W.-flowing streams, presumably over small bridges or culverts, and finally reaches the summit of a low ridge at 125 m. above OD.

At this point the modern road swings sharply E. in a broad curve before rejoining the Roman road alignment further S. The Roman road ran straight on and is visible on air photographs (in NMR; CUAP, BCO32–4) as a broad light-coloured band passing through the defences of Bannaventa (Fig. 115). Within the town the road is again visible on air photographs, sometimes as a light area 9 m. wide and sometimes as two parallel ditches 9 m.–10 m. apart. It passes through the town defences near the S. corner, still showing as a pale strip. Immediately beyond, the junction with the Bannaventa-Duston road (17) is visible (see below). Watling Street continues on the same alignment down the hillside, crosses a small E.-flowing brook and meets the A5 trunk road running in from the N.E. (SP 615638). The line of the road through Bannaventa is also partly visible on the ground, under good conditions, as a broad ridge some 10 m.–15 m.

across but only a few centimetres high, apparently made of gravel and small pieces of limestone. From the point of junction, both the A5 and Watling Street run S.E. on the same alignment across gently undulating land to a point near Dial House (SP 622620). Along this section all trace of the Roman road has been obliterated. Anglo-Saxon burials have been found (Norton (9)), immediately E. of the road. Just S.E. of Dial House the modern road swings slightly E. to run down a spur into a small valley, on an easier gradient than the Roman road. Immediately S.W. of the existing road a line of light-coloured stone-rubble reveals the Roman road. At the bottom of the spur the modern road rejoins the Roman road alignment to cross a stream. The latter is small enough to have been crossed by a culvert rather than a bridge. Beyond, the road continues on the same alignment, on level ground, until it crosses another small stream (SP 627611).

The Roman and modern roads now turn on to the first of a series of short straight alignments in order to avoid the junction of the S.-flowing Brockhall Brook and the E.-flowing R. Nene at Weedon Bec. If the original alignment had been continued, the Roman Road would have crossed the R. Nene and also the meandering Brockhall Brook four times within 1.5 km. and to avoid this the diversion to the W. was laid out. The first turn is through some 30 degrees and the road then runs almost due S. for 500 m. to a point just W. of the largest bend of the brook. It then turns back through some 40 degrees (SP 627606) and runs straight for 1050 m. until it reaches the S. end of the main street of Road Weedon (SP 632597). Here the road turns again, further to the S.E. through an angle of about 15 degrees, and runs straight for 850 m., crossing the Nene (at SP 635595), perhaps originally by a ford.

The road then crosses another small N.E.-flowing stream and turns again through about 15 degrees on to an alignment close to its original one (SP 639591). The modern road here is on a large embankment up to 2 m. high but it is not clear whether this is a survival of the original road or entirely the result of early 19th-century improvements. The fact that this final alignment is not exactly the same as the original one N. of Weedon may be the result of slightly inaccurate laying out of the Roman road. For the first 1150 m. of the new alignment the Roman road is totally obscured by the modern road which runs exactly straight. Then, N.E. of Church Stowe, just within Nether Heyford parish (SP 645580), the modern road leaves the Roman road and swings W. in a broad curve to avoid two steep-sided narrow valleys. Up until at least 1773 (NRO, Map of Stowe-Nine-Churches) the road continued along the Roman road alignment.

However, between then and 1839 (NRO, Tithe Map of Stowe-Nine-Churches) it was diverted to its present course, presumably by Thomas Telford who regraded and realigned this, the London-Holyhead road, in the early 19th century. This diversion has left the original Roman road largely intact (Fig. 154) as a very spread rounded agger 12 m. wide but only 0.25 m. high running across the corner of two small arable fields and descending into the valley bottom. Just before its reaches the stream (SP 64685786) it becomes a large flat-topped embankment 15 m. across and 1.25 m. high which may be the abutment of a bridge or a causeway across a culvert. It is impossible to be certain of the character of the crossing because an abandoned ironstone tramway running from Stowe-Nine-Churches to the railway sidings at Nether Heyford, crossing the S.E. end at right-angles, has altered its original form.

On the other side of the valley, the agger is again visible in pasture as a slight bank 10 m. wide and 0.25 m. high, traceable for 200 m. as far as the edge of the next valley. This second valley is spanned by a massive embankment up to 30 m. wide at the base and 3.5 m. high with a rounded top 8 m.–10 m. wide. This feature is now in arable land and is much damaged by ploughing; it was probably once considerably larger. The present stream passes through it in a small culvert, presumably on the site of a Roman one. Fig. 154 Roman Road 1f, Watling Street, Embankment in Stowe-Nine-Churches On the S.E. side of the valley the embankment fades out at the boundary of the garden of Heyford Grange. Within the garden are slight traces of a possible agger continuing along the same alignment until it rejoins the present road near its junction with the lane to Nether Heyford (sp 65025723).

From there both the Roman road and the modern A5 follow the same alignment for 850 m., to a point where (at SP 655564) they both pass beyond the boundaries of the area under review. 17 BANNAVENTA-DUSTON (Figs. 156 and 158) This short length of Roman road linked the town of Bannaventa (Norton (4)) to the important Roman settlement at Duston just W. of Northampton. It branched off Watling Street just S.E. of the S.E. gate of Bannaventa; air photographs (CUAP, BCO32–4) show a short light-coloured strip bounded by side ditches, running E. from its junction with Watling Street (Fig. 115). Beyond this point no traces are visible for nearly 2 km. Its line is crossed by the present A5, two lanes, the railway, the Grand Union Canal and the M1 motorway, all in the space of 600 m., and these have destroyed all remains. To the E.

of the motorway the road must have climbed up a gentle W.-facing slope to the present bend in the Duston-Whilton road near Gipsy Spinney (SP 623640), but there is no trace of it on this slope, either on the ground or on air photographs and the later ridge-and-furrow appears to lie across its assumed line. From Gipsy Spinney the modern road follows the Roman road alignment, here running exactly E.S.E. for 550 m. (to SP 638639). For the next 3.2 km., as far as the outskirts of the hamlet of Nobottle (SP 669632), the modern road follows a rather sinuous line and no trace of the Roman road on a straight alignment can be found. However, close examination reveals that the road was made up of a series of short alignments to enable it to remain on the narrow N.W.–S.E. ridge and avoid the numerous steep-sided valleys on either side. The first change of direction occurs near the Norton-Brockhall parish boundary (SP 638639), where the road turns S.E. through about 8 degrees.

It then runs straight for 500 m. before turning further S.E. through about 10 degrees to climb on to a higher part of the ridge (SP 643637). The new alignment is very short, only 150 m., and at the end it turns back towards the E. through some 15 degrees (SP 644636). Another straight length 500 m. long follows (to SP 649635), beyond which the road turns again to the S.E. through about 8 degrees. Here the ridge-top is only 150 m. across, and extremely sinuous, and as a result the Roman road had to change direction even more often to remain on the crest. The next alignment is only 150 m. long; the road then turns further S.E. by 5 degrees, runs for 100 m. and turns again by about 5 degrees back to a more easterly alignment (SP 652635). At this point the modern road diverts slightly to the S.

and, though the Roman road probably ran on below a headland, the adjacent ridge-and-furrow to the N. has obscured all trace. The next alignment is just under 500 m. long, then a little to the N.W. of Hillcrest Cottages the road turns sharply E.N.E. through about 25 degrees and runs on a new alignment for 250 m. (to SP 659634). It next turns once more to the S.E. by about 26 degrees, and then, though the modern road bends slightly, the Roman road must have run straight for about 1 km. to the E. end of the ridge above the hamlet of Nobottle (SP 669632). Here the Roman road turned for the last time, further to the S.E. by about 10 degrees. It left the modern road to the N. and presumably ran down the shallow valley at the bottom of which the modern road rejoins it. At this point, N.

of the modern road, the boundary bank and ditch of the settlement remains of Nobottle (Brington (4)) have been interpreted as a terraced section of the Roman road (BNFAS, I (1971), 44). However, there is little doubt that the Roman road was in fact to the S. of the present one. Near Townsend Farm in Nobottle the Roman road and the modern one converge and from hereon run S.E. as the main street of Nobottle for 600 m., climbing up a steep valley side. At the top, the modern road runs along the S. side of Nobottle Belt and is made up of three different alignments, but the Roman road apparently ran straight, close to its S. side. However, no trace of the Roman road is visible in the modern arable land. At the S.E. end of the Nobottle Belt (SP 689624) the modern road and the Roman road converge again and cross into Harpole parish, out of the area under review. Fig. 155 Roman Road 1f, Watling Street Lilbourne – Kilsby Fig.

156 Roman Road 1f, Watling Street Kilsby – Norton Fig. 157 Roman Road 1f, Watling Street Norton – Stowe-Nine-Churches Fig. 158 Roman Road 17 Bannaventa – Brington

Question: Which modem "A" road mainly follows the Roman road Watling Street?
Answer: A5