The modern Watling Street crossing the Medway at Rochester near the Roman and Celt crossings

Watling Street is the name given to an ancient trackway in England and Wales that was first used by the Celts mainly between the modern cities of Canterbury and St Albans. Ancient trackway can refer to any track or trail whose origin is lost in antiquity England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Celts (ˈkɛlts or /ˈsɛlts/, see Names of the Celts Canterbury ( ˈkæntəbɹ̩i is a City in eastern Kent in the South East region of England. St Albans is the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London. 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 Antonine Itinerary (in Latin: Antonini Itinerarium) is a register of the stations and distances along the various roads of the Roman empire, containing London, the capital of the United Kingdom, has a recorded history that goes back over 2000 years Dubris or Portus Dubris was the original name of the town of Dover, Kent, England given to it by its Roman founders The name derives from the Anglo-Saxon 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. The A2 is a major road in southern England, connecting London with the English Channel port of Dover in Kent. See also Wroxeter (disambiguation Wroxeter (pronounced "Rock-Sitter" is a Village in the county of Shropshire, England, on Originally the word "street" simply meant a paved road (Latin: "via strata"), and did not have the modern association with populated areas.

History

Roman

A Roman road known as Iter III went from London to Dover. The Roman Roads were essential for the growth of the Roman Empire, by enabling the Romans to move armies and trade goods and to communicate news The last section of the long Iter II route from Hadrian's Wall travelled through Viroconium (now Wroxeter in Shropshire), past Letocetum (modern day Wall), Manduessedum (modern day Mancetter - possible site of Boudica's last battle), Venonis (modern day High Cross), Bannaventa, Lactodorum (modern day Towcester - near another possible site of Boudica's last battle)), then through Stony Stratford and Magiovinium (Fenny Stratford) in modern day Milton Keynes, Durocobrivis (modern day Dunstable), Verulamium (near modern-day St Albans in Hertfordshire) and London (including the modern Old Kent Road) to Rutupiae (now Richborough in Kent) on the southeast coast of England. Hadrian's Wall ( Latin: perhaps Vallum Aelium, "the Aelian wall" is a stone and turf Fortification built by the Roman Viroconium Cornoviorum, or simply Viroconium, was a Roman town one corner of which is now occupied by the small Village of Wroxeter in the See also Wroxeter (disambiguation Wroxeter (pronounced "Rock-Sitter" is a Village in the county of Shropshire, England, on Shropshire (ˈʃrɒpʃɪə/ /-ʃə alternatively known as Salop or abbreviated in print only Shrops, is a county in the Letocetum, now known as the village of Wall, Staffordshire, England, is the remains of a Roman settlement Wall is a small village in Staffordshire, England, just south of Lichfield. Manduessedum was a Roman fort and later a civilian small Town in the Roman Province of Britannia. Mancetter is a Village and Civil parish in the North Warwickshire district of Warwickshire, England. Boudica (also spelled Boudicca, formerly known as Boadicea, and known in Welsh culture and legends as "Buddug" (d High Cross is the crossroads of the Roman Roads of Watling Street and Fosse Way in Leicestershire, England. High Cross is the crossroads of the Roman Roads of Watling Street and Fosse Way in Leicestershire, England. Bannaventa was a Romano British Fortified Town which was situated on the Roman road of Watling Street, which today is known as the A5 trunk Towcester (ˈtoʊstɚ the Roman town of Lactodorum, is a small town in Northamptonshire, England. Stony Stratford (often shortened to Stony) is a constituent Town of Milton Keynes and is a Civil parish operating as a Town council Fenny Stratford is a constituent Town of Milton Keynes, ceremonial Buckinghamshire, England and in the Civil Parish of Bletchley Milton Keynes ( ˌmɪltənˈkiːnz often abbreviated to MK, is a large town Dunstable is a Market town in Bedfordshire, England. It lies on the eastward tail spurs of the Chiltern Hills, 30 miles north of London Verulamium was the third-largest city in Roman Britain. It was sited in the southwest of the modern city of St Albans in Hertfordshire. St Albans is the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London. Hertfordshire (ˈhɑːtfədʃə(r, abbreviated Herts) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of See also A2 road (Great Britain Old Kent Road is a road in South East London, England and forms part of Watling Street, the Roman Rutupiæ was the Roman name for Richborough near Sandwich Kent, which they founded when they landed in England in AD 43 Richborough ( pronounced /ˈrɪtʃb(ərə/ is a settlement north of Sandwich on the east coast of the county of Kent, England. KENT (1400 AM) is a Radio station broadcasting a Adult Standards/MOR format England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland While another section of Iter II linked Wroxeter to Chester, and other roads went into north Wales and central Wales, these are not generally considered to be part of Watling Street. Chester is the County town of Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77040 Thus the Roman routes which comprise Watling Street are all of Iter III and the middle southern section of Iter II.

Main section

Roman Britain, with the route of Watling Street in red

The main section of the road is that from Dover to Wroxeter. It was named Wæcelinga Stræt by the Anglo-Saxons, literally "the street of the people of Wæcel". A street name or odonym is an identifying name given to a Street. Wæcel could possibly be a variation of the Anglo-Saxon word for 'foreigner' which was applied to the Celtic people inhabiting what is now Wales. Celts (ˈkɛlts or /ˈsɛlts/, see Names of the Celts This source also gave us the name for Wæclingacaester (the Anglo-Saxon 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.

Subsidiary routes

Stone Street ran south for some 12 miles from Watling Street at Canterbury (the Roman Durovernum) to Lympne (Lemanis) at the western edge of the Romney Marsh. Canterbury ( ˈkæntəbɹ̩i is a City in eastern Kent in the South East region of England. Lympne (lɪm village is situated on the once sea cliffs above the Romney Marsh in Kent. The Romney Marsh is a sparsely-populated Wetland area in the counties of Kent and East Sussex in the south-east of England. Most of it is now the current B2068 road that runs from the M20 motorway to Canterbury. The M20 is a Motorway in Kent, England. It runs from the M25 motorway to Folkestone, providing a link to the Channel Canterbury ( ˈkæntəbɹ̩i is a City in eastern Kent in the South East region of England.

Another Stone Street from Magnae (Kenchester) to Caerleon. Caerleon (Caerllion is a suburban village and community, situated on the River Usk in the northern outskirts of the city of Newport, South

Battle of Watling Street

Main article: 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. The Battle of Watling Street (sometimes called the Battle of Paulerspury) took place in Roman-occupied Britain in AD 60 or The Battle of Watling Street (sometimes called the Battle of Paulerspury) took place in Roman-occupied Britain in AD 60 or Gaius Suetonius Paulinus, also spelled Paullinus, (flourished 1st century) was a Roman general Boudica (also spelled Boudicca, formerly known as Boadicea, and known in Welsh culture and legends as "Buddug" (d

Danelaw

Main article: Danelaw

In the 9th century, Watling Street was used as the demarcation line between the Anglo-Saxon and Danish-ruled parts of England. The Danelaw, as recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (also known as the Danelagh; Old English: Dena lagu; Danish: The 9th century is the period from 801 to 900 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. The Treaty of Wedmore required the defeated Danes to withdraw to an area north and east of Watling Street, thus establishing the Danelaw. The Peace of Wedmore is a term used by Historians for an event referred to by the monk Asser in his Life of Alfred outlining how in 878 the Viking leader The Danelaw, as recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (also known as the Danelagh; Old English: Dena lagu; Danish:

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 to Canterbury in his Canterbury Tales. Geoffrey Chaucer (c 1343 – 25 October 1400? was an English author poet Philosopher, bureaucrat, courtier and Diplomat. Southwark or The Borough is an area of south-east London in the London Borough of Southwark, situated 1 Canterbury ( ˈkæntəbɹ̩i is a City in eastern Kent in the South East region of England. The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century (two of them in Prose, the rest in verse)

Turnpike

The road north of London became a Turnpike firstly in 1707 when the section from Fornhill near Hockliffe to Stony Stratford was paved following an Act of Parliament on March 4th 1707. Turnpike trusts in the United Kingdom were bodies set up by Act of Parliament, with powers to collect road tolls for maintaining the principal highways Year 1707 ( MDCCVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Hockliffe is a Village in Bedfordshire on the crossroads of the A5 road (formerly Watling Street) and the A4012 road. Stony Stratford (often shortened to Stony) is a constituent Town of Milton Keynes and is a Civil parish operating as a Town council ^[1]

This was the first Turnpike Trust and showed how financially hazardous the undertaking could be.

The Fornhill to Stony Stratford case provides more evidence that Parliament would void undertakers’ rights if they were negligent. The trustees for the Fornhill 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 Fornhill 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 the Member heading the committee for the bill. ^[2]

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 on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales. The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar Thomas Telford (9 August 1757 - 2 September 1834 was born in Westerkirk, Scotland. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Holyhead ( IPA /ˈhɒlihɛd/ Welsh: Caergybi, "the fort of Saint Cybi " is the largest town in the county of History There are numerous Megalithic monuments and Menhirs present on Anglesey testifying to the presence of mankind in prehistory At this time the section south of London became known as the Great Dover Road. The toll system ended in 1875.

Modern road

A paving stone on Kilburn High Road in London commemorates the route of Watling Street

Main articles: A2 road (Great Britain) and A5 road

Most of the road is still in use today apart from a few sections where it has been diverted. The A2 is a major road in southern England, connecting London with the English Channel port of Dover in Kent. 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 A2 is a major road in southern England, connecting London with the English Channel port of Dover in Kent. Shrewsbury ( /ˈʃruːzbri/ or /ˈʃroʊzbri/ is the County town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England Holyhead ( IPA /ˈhɒlihɛd/ Welsh: Caergybi, "the fort of Saint Cybi " is the largest town in the county of 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. Greenwich Park is a former Hunting park in Greenwich and one of the largest single green spaces in south east London. 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. Milton Keynes ( ˌmɪltənˈkiːnz often abbreviated to MK, is a large town The name of the town of Wellington, Shropshire, which lies just east of Shrewsbury, is believed to be a corruption of the word 'Watling town' as Watling Street supposedly ran straight through the centre of Wellington. Wellington is a town in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England and now forms part of the New town

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, Gillingham, Rochester, Gravesend, Dartford, and Bexleyheath). London, the capital of the United Kingdom, has a recorded history that goes back over 2000 years KENT (1400 AM) is a Radio station broadcasting a Adult Standards/MOR format Canterbury ( ˈkæntəbɹ̩i is a City in eastern Kent in the South East region of England. Gillingham ( is a town in the Unitary authority of Medway in South East England. Rochester is a town in Kent, England. It is located within the Unitary authority area of Medway and is at the lowest bridging point of the Gravesend is a town in northwest Kent, England, on the south bank of the Thames, opposite Tilbury in Essex. Dartford is the principal town in the borough of Dartford. It is situated in the northwest corner of Kent, England, 16 miles (25 km east south-east Bexleyheath, formerly known as "Bexley New Town" part of the London Borough of Bexley in South East London consists of a suburban development located 12 miles (19 Within London, a major road joining the A5 in north west London is called Watling Avenue. North of London, the name Watling Street still occurs in Hertfordshire (including St Albans), Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire (including Milton Keynes), Northamptonshire (including Towcester), Leicestershire, Warwickshire (including Nuneaton), Staffordshire (including Cannock, Wall and Lichfield), Shropshire (including in Church Stretton as the residential Watling St North ans South) and Gwynedd. Hertfordshire (ˈhɑːtfədʃə(r, abbreviated Herts) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of St Albans is the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London. Bedfordshire (abbreviated Beds) is a County in England that forms part of the East of England region. Buckinghamshire (abbreviated Bucks) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. Milton Keynes ( ˌmɪltənˈkiːnz often abbreviated to MK, is a large town Northamptonshire (or archaically the County of Northampton; abbreviated Northants Towcester (ˈtoʊstɚ the Roman town of Lactodorum, is a small town in Northamptonshire, England. Leicestershire (ˈlɛstəʃə(r or ˈlɛstəʃɪə(r abbreviation Leics Geography Warwickshire is bounded to the northwest by the West Midlands Metropolitan county and Staffordshire, by Leicestershire to Nuneaton is the largest town in the English county of Warwickshire, and the borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth. Staffordshire (abbreviated Staffs) is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. Cannock is a town in Staffordshire, England, just north of the West Midlands conurbation. Letocetum, now known as the village of Wall, Staffordshire, England, is the remains of a Roman settlement Lichfield is a city and Civil parish in Staffordshire, England. Shropshire (ˈʃrɒpʃɪə/ /-ʃə alternatively known as Salop or abbreviated in print only Shrops, is a county in the Church Stretton is a small town in southern Shropshire, England, located approximately south of Shrewsbury, the County town. History Gwynedd was an independent kingdom from the end of the Roman period until the 13th Century when it was conquered and subjugated by England

Other Watling Streets

A Watling Street still exists in the City of London, close to Mansion House underground station, though this is unlikely to be on the route of the original Roman road which traversed the River Thames via the first London Bridge. For London as a whole see the main article London. The City of London is a geographically Mansion House is a London Underground station in the City of London, near Mansion House (although Bank station is actually closer The Thames ( is a major River flowing through southern England. London Bridge is a Bridge between the City of London and Southwark in London, England, over the River Thames. In Lancashire, Watling Street is the Roman Road through Affetside which leads from Manchester to Ribchester. Affetside is an upland village located in the West Pennine Moors area in the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, in Greater Manchester, England Ribchester is a village in the Ribble Valley district of Lancashire, England, northwest of Blackburn and east of Preston.

The Roman Road from Catterick (Cataractonium) to Corbridge (Corstopitum) and onto the Antonine Wall also came to be known as Watling Street,^[3] with perhaps a similar Anglo-Saxon etymology owing to its path into the foreign land of Scotland. Catterick, sometimes Catterick Village to distinguish it from the nearby Catterick Garrison, is a Village in North Yorkshire. Corbridge is a small town in Northumberland, England, situated 16 miles (25 km west of Newcastle and 4 miles (6 km east of Hexham The Antonine Wall is a stone and turf Fortification, built by the Romans across what is now the Central belt of Scotland Etymology is the study of the History of Words &mdash when they entered a language from what source and how their form and meaning have changed over time Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. This route is also known as Dere Street. Dere Street or Deere Street, (latterly Via Regia in Scotland was a Roman road between Eboracum (York and Scotland. This may also be the case for another Watling Street^[3][4] between Manchester (Mancunium) and Ribchester (Bremetennacum) which ultimately led to another 'foreign land' in Saxon times, that of Cumbria. Ribchester is a village in the Ribble Valley district of Lancashire, England, northwest of Blackburn and east of Preston. Bremetennacum (also Bremetonnacum, Bremetenracum or Bresnetenacum Veteranorum) was a Roman fort which is now the village of Boundaries and divisions Cumbria is neighboured by Northumberland, County Durham, North Yorkshire, Lancashire, and the Lieutenancy

A Watling Street Road exists to this day in the city of Preston, Lancashire. Preston ( ˈprɛstən is a city and local government district in Lancashire, England, located on the River Ribble. Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England, bounded to the west by the Irish Sea It connects the districts of Ribbleton and Fulwood and passes the site of Sharoe Green Hospital. Fulwood is a suburb in the city of Preston in Lancashire, England, about two miles north of the city centre

See also

• Great Dover Road
• Category:Ancient trackways in England
• Roman Britain
• Roman roads in Britain
• Fenny Stratford (Magiovinium)
• Towcester (Lactodorum)
• Bannaventa
• Tripontium
• Manduessedum

References

Further reading

O. Roucoux, The Roman Watling Street: from London to High Cross, Dunstable Museum Trust, 1984, ISBN 0-9508406-2-9.

External links

• The Antonine Itinerary
• Map of Roman roads in Britain - Very large map; opens in separate window.
• 'Watling Street - A Journey through Roman Britain' web page by the BBC