Roman Roads

Before the Romans came to Britain no real roads had been built, marshes drained or rivers embanked, but after their arrival they rapidly began a programme of linking the major centres with good wide roads with a camber.

The camber was there to ensure that the surface remained firm and well-drained in all types of weather. The use of edging stones kept the surfaces from spreading sideways and it was these various factors which made modern road-makers use many of the Roman roads, where possible, even though they were 1800 years old.

In open country the Romans used sighting poles to ensure the roads went straight between two points and it is this characteristic which may help identify modern roads which have been built on a Roman foundation.

Ermine Street is the Roman road from Londinium (London) to Lindum (Lincoln) and the old A1 follow it quite closely. The A5 follows Watling Street which runs from Londinium to Chester (Deva) while immediately south of Birmingham can be found traces of Iknield Street which linked Cirencester (Corinium) to Letocetum (Wall) a place near Stafford.

Forest was cleared and marsh drained to make way for the roads but to cross rivers at easy fording points and to avoid pointless climbing local diversions were sometimes made.
After the Romans left Britain the roads deteriorated because few people travelled any distance.