A Roman Road through Wessex! Winchester to Salisbury

Welcome to this weeks video in which we attempt to find Roman Road RR45a. Yup and it turns up some utterly joyous sections. In fact nothing like we have seen to date.
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[@briancjohnson]

If Paul and Rebecca had a disagreement about thrashing into a hedge, would that be called a hedge row? I'll see myself out.

[@DavidBeddard]

👨‍🍳😙👌

[@BillLaBrie]

Don’t be alarmed now, It’s just a spring-clean for the May-Queen.

[@philthycat1408]

Perhaps they’d be Bushwhacking

[@ethelmini]

It was more of an agger-do, I'd say.

[@ThatCoalSoul]

Take your coat.

[@richardslaubaugh2368]

I have been watching this channel for a few months now and as an American we do not have anything this old to go to I’m jealous. Love the channel and content.

[@thecrowcook]

Yes we do, there were civilizations in america during the Roman period

[@llywrch7116]

You just need to learn your local history. For example, up in the mountains near my home in Portland, Oregon you can still see a stretch of the Oregon Trail where it descends from the summit near the Pioneer Woman's Grave. (The grave is a landmark that is marked, just off US 26.) While the Trail is nowhere near as old as the Roman roads our narrators have guided us along, being a mere 180 years old, the sight of the course of the Trail zigzagging downhill thru the evergreens still can leave one with a tactile sense of history.

[@CChan11]

Yeah, I'm in South Carolina and the oldest thing you'll ever find here are some stone/flint arrowheads, if you're very lucky. There are some rock carvings near table rock, but nothing like out west or in Europe. I share your pain.....

[@samhklm]

Thank you for an informative and entertaining stroll through the English countryside. Thanks to your wife for accompanying on these wonderful peregrinations. ( She should be showered with gifts for such forbearance ).

[@XmarkedSpot]

I know i've already said this once before but it holds true nonetheless: your editing improves from one episode to the next. Looking forward to all the secrets you'll unravel, yours truly from Germany, Thomas edit: spälling

[@matthewhewitson80]

Your obvious enthusiasm shown in your videos makes them very engaging, combined with your passion and research makes these a must watch for anyone interested in Canals, roads and railways! I always look forward to more videos. Thanks!

[@TheWrightLifeTravelChannel]

We loved the walk! We can not get enough of anything related to Roman Britain!

[@jimjoelliejack]

Fantastic, I live on a Roman road near boroughbridge,it’s now a B road, it’s risen and has a deep ditch. I often think about the ancient traffic that travelled on this road to Aldborough. I love British history.👍

[@bobsrailrelics]

It never ceases to amaze me how you are able to identify these remains. I would probably walk straight past them. Thanks for this, looking forward to more.

[@yggdrasil7942]

You'll soon see things pop up if you look above using Google maps. Many old disused railways scatter the land and can be found by the straight or curved lines on thick bushes. Trying the find the line through a housing estate might be problematic until it springs up again in the countryside.

[@bobsrailrelics]

@@yggdrasil7942 Railways I don't have a problem with railways thanks to the National library of Scotland and Railmap online, but it's when you talk Roman remains that I hit the buffers.

[@yggdrasil7942]

@@bobsrailrelics Oh right. Still, I like to use my eye. I remember looking at maps when I was a child. Love the archeology side of things. One of the areas I used to live in, Pullborough in West Sussex has a roman road which is used now as the A29. Staine street, if you look at maps, goes straight though Billingshurst, up to Clemsfold, gets lost and reappears near Oakley. I currently live near Huntington. There's another Roman road there called Ermine Street. The A1198. You can follow that past Royston, turns into the A10, and I can't find it past Ware, although I know it goes to London. It used to go from London to Lincoln.

[@paulinehedges5088]

Thank you both SO MUCH That really was fascinating and your enthusiam carries me along too. Another great Sunday evening's informed entertainment.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Pauline. Our pleasure.

[@martinmarsola6477]

An interesting tour today. Thank you both for the trip. Cheers mates!

[@memofromessex]

There's an old abandoned Roman road I cycled (though I had to carry my bike a few times) that I saw and touched - I swear - a bit of Roman road paving. The geology wasn't similar to the local area and it looked exactly how I expected. I was so happy!

[@meme4one]

There is a roman road outside Chippenham, its higher than the field height so very easy to see. Its got a few raspberry bushes beside it which are fairly uncommon around here. Always makes me think a roman threw out some raspberries and they grew from that. Very unlikely I know but always makes me smile.

[@davie941]

great start again Paul and Rebecca lol , very interesting video as always , really well done and thank you guys 😊

[@douglasfleetney5031]

Wonderful Paul. I get your enthusiasm, I suffer from the same, you are not alone. Great video, thanks.

[@bullettube9863]

You might think the Romans would use an ancient track way but track ways are always narrow with ditches and hedges on each side to keep the animals on the track. The Roman formations marched six abreast, so the roadway had to be wider, and preferred to have a clear view on either side to avoid being ambushed. Only the roads that connected villages have survived while roads between villas and mines were soon ignored and went back to being wild. It never ceases to amaze me how enthusiastic Paul and Rebecca are in their search for lost Roman roads, canals, and railways! Thanks to them we get to see a heritage that would be lost otherwise!

[@brianartillery]

At Farley Mount, there's a tomb - for a horse, that was called 'BEWARE CHALK PIT'. It is marked by a tall, white pyramidal folly. The horse had such an odd name, as it had survived a fall into a deep chalk pit several years before it's death, and had been a champion racehorce after recovering from the fall. Have you ever visited Spoonley Wood Roman villa? It's near Cirencester, and has a large mosaic floor, covered with plastic sheeting. It sits, rather eerily, in the centre of an overgrown wood. I first read of it in Bill Bryson's 'Notes From A Small Island', and his awestruck description of it - the fact he could just uncover it, and look at it, with no constraints - brought me out in goosebumps.

[@bcoldgoalie]

Enjoy watching Paul and Rebecca rambling and roaming on an ancient Roman road! Nicely done. 😊👏

[@macaidwin]

I love the enthusiasm when you are telling the stories about the places where you stand. Lovely videos.

[@pwhitewick]

😊 thank you

[@pauldarby1739]

Thank you for your enthusiasm and for making your videos so interesting. Godbless you both😊

[@peterandrewwilson976]

There are other sections of Roman road that can be found following byways and lanes a few miles north of there. Heading through Harewood Forest north of the B3048 (just west of Patchington Copse) and then another section which is now Hungerford Lane (north of Enham Alamein and Andover). The Roman road that is now Hungerford Lane crossed the Portway in Andover (probably under what is now the Roman Way estate) and the Lane serves a farmhouse before becoming a byway up to go past the Hare & Hounds pub at Charlton Down before continuing on towards Fosbury Camp hillfort and ultimatelt passing through Savernake Forest towards Swindon. There's lots to explore all aound there, with many sections that can be identified (with a bit of scrabbling in hedges and bushes). There is a good Iron Age and Roman museum in Andover town too. Well worth a visit. There's a huge Roman mosaic floor on display in the museum. Free entry too.

[@shirleylynch7529]

Your enthusiasm draws us in, brilliant vlog. So much history. Thank you for taking us to these places.

[@pwhitewick]

Our pleasure!

[@johnpolhamus9041]

Just from your into excitement I was expecting yo see some remaining small roman businesses, some roman route-66 style tourist attractions, maybe a roman truck-stop, still selling hay and mead...now I HAVE to watch the rest of the film!!

[@UMtiger311]

Paul and Rebecca are two of the best people on youtube, no debate.

[@philshepherd7850]

Thanks

[@pwhitewick]

Much appreciated

[@pauljones1350]

I am just going to go into this hedge! your dedication and effort very commendable a remarkable couple all the best both.

[@Swindondruid2]

Great video, as always. There are lots of Roman roads around Winchester which I enjoyed exploring when I was younger. I also have wonderful memories of Farley Mount from when I was a kid and when I brought my kids there.

[@seaspirit5087]

What is nit to like Rebeca and Paul work so well together throughly enjoyable thanks!

[@davidberlanny3308]

Love your enthusiasm on these Roman Roads adventures!! You have reminded me of coming across the Roman Road at Southwick, Portsdown Hill when out hiking with scouts, it borders the HMS Dryad which is famous for its role on D Day, the internet says it's Roman road 421. Good luck from Spain!!

[@andrewnorth170]

Very Interesting, I like how you can spot a Roman Road just from the shape and hills either side.

[@johnjames8910]

Love this show. Wish they would go over the battle of Brunanburh

[@akatmountain3098]

I was a roman surveyor in a past life. Thanks for the nice memories!

[@sirensynapse5603]

Romanes Eunt Domus!

[@pwhitewick]

An absolute pleasure.

[@anthonyolson3654]

How fun! What a great chance to vicariously explore wity you guys., Thanks!

[@graemer3657]

Bloody brilliant to watch.

[@graemer3657]

At stadtbredimus on the Moselle in Luxembourg, near where now I live they found a Roman bridge. Then technology changed. Turned out the trees were cut down 300bc and it was Celtic. “So what” is that sometimes Roman roads and other transport links aren’t new, just continued use or upgrades of older routes. Btw, I’m from Chiseldon so recognise many of your sites.

[@whereinsussex]

How exciting, I have traversed parts of this by bicycle, when I thought it was a good idea to cycle from Newhaven to Wales. I remember the monument about a horse that fell in a chalk pit and, looking at the map, cycled from Winchester to Middle Winterslow along various bits of it.

[@pwhitewick]

I think its now part of the King Alfred's cycle route?

[@caahacky]

@@pwhitewick I didn't know King Alfred had a bike... I'll get me cloak.

[@davescholes8824]

thanks for the history becky,s lovely

[@frankparsons1629]

Excellent video both of you, thank you, and thank you Romans.

[@andrewradgick4424]

Have you ever looked at The Devil's Highway in Swinley Forest, just south of Bracknell? It's part of the London to Silchester Roman road. Although it's straight now, it probably had a kink in it to access Wickham Bushes, a small Roman town half way between Staines and Silchester (a day's march from each)

[@Dave1976.]

Hi Paul & Rebecca. Love all your contentment. All your hard work pays of. Have been watching your channel quite a few years now. Love the funny content and serious work. Must take hours with all the editing. What can I say about this vlog. WOW WOW WOW. Is it a HD camera you have. It looks fantastic. Keep up the great work....

[@cjg1970]

Heading east from Figsbury ring, on the Monarch's way, towards the Winterslows, and you join the roman road you go through a wooded area where the road is clearly visible. As you come out into the open it is dead straight behind the houses at Firsdown.

[@PhilipInCoventry]

Thank you once again so much for your entertaining & instructive video, bringing alive events from the past. Your hints of humour lift what for some folk could be a dry subject, into a fascinating insight. Thank you both so much. A sixteen minute video, comprising input of tens of hours of hard work & planning.

[@Finchcustomputters]

Fantastic. We have a Roman road going through our golf club at Ashton and Lea in Preston. It’s really visible with the ditches either side.

[@pwhitewick]

Make sure they don't change it!

[@MrGreatplum]

Amazing to see the raised parts of the Roman road and ditches with the coppiced hazel on top - I expect that the land has been coppiced for centuries so all the more amazing for it being there still. Excellent video and great editing.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

I understand Paul’s excitement: when an abandoned Roman road becomes visible to you, it’s a great buzz. For me, it’s as much about why this amazing infrastructure fell out of use. We’ll never know why and when that happened, but it surely does indicate centuries of decline following the end of Roman rule in Britain.

[@paulbaker654]

My great-grandfather is buried in Bossington churchyard. He died in 1907. Back in the late 60's I had cause to visit a farm just south of Silchester. There is a roman road from Silchester to Winchester and this passed through this farm. The farmer had recently been working on tidying the banks of a stream that the road crossed and, where the road met the stream, you could clearly see the actual structure of the road in the river bank where it would have crossed.

[@johnknipe5673]

thank you both so much, I love your enthusiasm.

[@charlesachurch7265]

Love you both having fun and enjoying your adventures xxx.

[@davidpalin1790]

Interesting video Well done 👏

[@dereham1]

Just love you pair ... superb enthusiasm and presentation, thank you!

[@pwhitewick]

Thank you so much!

[@LiveDonkeyDeadLion]

I was literally in Farley Mount Country Park this morning, and rode along that road

[@richardmorgan9273]

This road linked two ex-Roman places that were important towns in the Saxon period (Winchester and Salisbury (Old Sarum)), so why did it fall out of use? Many Roman roads are still in use to this day, where they remained useful. I can only guess it became impassible (a bridge falling in, a landslide, etc, or possibly it was overgrown after only a decade or two out of use ).

[@pwhitewick]

Its quite an oddity isn't it. I think in Saxon times there would have been a few close by trackways used along the route but perhaps since the turnpikes (Often London centric?) these older routes fell out of popular use. Not sure.

[@lordbungle6235]

My inner 13 year old appeared at 10:06 Paul: "What they found, or what they said to have found is some roman piles. what that tell us is....." My inner 13 year old " They ate a low fibre diet." 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@pwhitewick]

Ooooof

[@gaugeonesteam]

Interesting stuff as always. You two certainly are very good at finding these places! As other have said, great editing too.

[@simonf8370]

So happy to even get to see your Sunday treat on our hotel TV in Morocco. Thanks again for sharing your insights

[@taffythegreat1986]

It’s funny how you both gets so exciting in seeing something that’s hardly visible. 😂 but I can understand. It’s passion for the past and what remains today. 👍👍that’s why I love watching your videos I use to go metal detecting in fields. When I found something, not necessary any monetary value. Like a buckle or Roman brooch. I use to look around where I was standing and think, hundreds or even thousands of years ago on this very spot. That someone was walking along and either threw it away or just lost it.

[@DomEvans]

growing up in Winch i found it so weird there was no direct road from winch to sailsbury. especally with the old roman road. Just seems weird to have 2 close cities with no direct route. you have to go through stockbridge or southampton

[@robedmundsvid]

Was that a "2000 year old route" or a "2000 year old root" in that hedge? 🙂 Love your videos, thanks for all your efforts.

[@simonbradshaw3708]

Thanks for another interesting video, well done for spotting the hidden road. Look forward to seeing you both next week.

[@AlwaysOutdoorsAdventure]

Great video guys.

[@mkendallpk4321]

Paul, you pointed out some sections of the roman road had paths(trails) right next to them. Could speculate why the roman road was not being used instead of making a new path(trail)? Great job by the way.

[@twotone3070]

Not surprising the A30 was shut at that point, the traffic moves very fast down that narrow road, plenty of tiny lanes off it and Lopcombe Corner is like playing Russian Roulette sometimes. I looked at street view between there and where the roman road crosses the A30 and you can see the roman road tumbling down of the hillside and marching raised and proud across the field as you approach the crossing point.

[@effyleven]

They found some Roman piles... yeah! And the place WAS called "Horsebridge," according to the OS map shown on-creen.

[@pwhitewick]

Huh?

[@syncrosimon]

That's brilliant, will go down and have a look at that bit of Roman Road, when next in the area.

[@pwhitewick]

Plenty to see there!

[@MichaelSebastianTodd]

brilliant video

[@Lichfeldian--Suttonian]

Right, it will be great to visit the Roman road south of Lopcome Corner. Correction, Ashley Down. Looks great. Many thanks. Your videos are great to watch.

[@cliffboulton8763]

Your enthusiasm knows no bounds and I can show an interest in your kind of history. Why wasn't I taught about this at school? Who cares about Henry VIIIth and his wives names, let along how they died. If I'd had stuff like this I may have passed History exams!! (I got 2% in GCE in 1950's)

[@bluesman1947]

It's amazing what you see where there's nothing to see.

[@DrivermanO]

There is a really obvious, reasonably long section of Roman road - Stane Street - running south west of Bignor Hill in Sussex, heading towards Chichester. You have to do a bit of poking around at the back of the hill, but its worth it. Well, it was 50 years ago when I went there! But very recently I saw a picture, and it was pretty much how I remembered it.

[@MarkDibley]

Stane Street from Bignor Hill down through Eartham Woods is a great walk that I get to do regularly as part of the Monarch's Way. The roman road is still clearly visible and used. But the best bit is standing part of the way down from Bignor Hill looking along the straight road and in the distance, perfectly in line, is the spire of Chichester Cathedral. The other day I meet a guy in his 70s who cycles Stane Street every day. It is still a major highway.

[@michaelandcarolblackburn103]

Very cool. Thanks

[@johnstephenmurphy546]

Should have a look at the Roman road in stourbridge a salt road I believe

[@radiosnail]

Another good one. I had't previouslyrealised that Roman roads were sometimes surfaced with gravel instead of stone .

[@jduffell4132]

I think the stone was a subsurface. I'm sure it was originally covered as well.

[@pwhitewick]

Ah thats interesting

[@Sim0nTrains]

Very interesting finds in this video.,. very enjoyable

[@pwhitewick]

Many thanks Simon

[@Urbexy]

Excelent video as always. Roman roads have always been of interest to me. You can bet the roads built today would not be so easily spotted in the landscape in a couple of thousand years.

[@pwhitewick]

Thats very true!

[@miketherefurbisher8000]

Most enjoyable Guys!! Thanks

[@peteredwards338]

Seemed to be a lot of coppiced hazel on the first part of the Roman Road.

[@pwhitewick]

Yup. Apparently they did that on old boundaries?

[@peteredwards338]

@@pwhitewick Thank you.

[@69waveydavey]

The bible is David Vizard's "Tuning BL's A series engine" actually.

[@robertjcashworth4712]

Actually I understood what you mean by terrace in one of your videos after I messaged you. So a step forward. I suppose I should just go out and look at a Roman Road. I am in Petersfield area. Any suggestions. A great fan of disused stations by the way. I have been looking g online for ages for old photos of such

[@HotelPapa100]

Don't forget looking for Falco's silver pigs hidden by the side of the road while following the Lead Road.

[@RichardFelstead1949]

Great video. I like the interchanges at the start.Well done.G'Day from Australia.

[@spookerd]

When I describe this channel to friends I tell them it's about disused railway stations, canals, roman roads, and a whole lot of hedge exploring.

[@pwhitewick]

I think I should add "Hedges" to the profile!

[@spookerd]

@@pwhitewick you should, maybe "hedge hunters"?

[@caminojohn3240]

Like the video, but it was really hard to imagine or see the roads you were pointing out. Perhaps some line overlays would be a great help in the future. Also some cross sectional details on this type of road. I was wondering where all the stone pavers went?

[@caminojohn3240]

Ok. You put the visual at the end.

[@andyrichardsvideovlogs8835]

Fascinating, living in a part of the country not particularly blessed with Roman roads - just dry Stone walls and sheep - it's really interesting to see the Roman era.

[@peterburgess5974]

If you ever want me to show you the Roman Roads through Cumbria (and not what everyone thinks, then give me a shout to find the newly exposed route north from Lancaster to Carlisle. It's a landscape of pure magic - you'll love it!

[@dodgydruid]

Wished you would do a vid on the larger than life John Gullivar of Kinson who was a notorious smuggler and a Cyrano De Bergarac or Baron Munchausen in the enormous tales of derring do, battles with the "revenoo", pirates and strange folk on far distant shores and they were all tall tales but he was also a benevolent employer and landowner and Bournemouth council have made it their mission to erase him from history.

[@invisiblewizard2538]

Nice to see the Monarch's Way featuring in your video in the first year of our latest King Charles - not to jinx the new reign or anything ;)

[@MarkDibley]

An old sign though. The local minder needs to update the info marker with the new one that has got the new distance of 625 miles and the QR code.

[@highpath4776]

Happy to know ones burial plot is reserved for use

[@pwhitewick]

Indeed!!

[@marcdebruin2425]

Nice video. Love your enthusiasm!

[@peterburgess5974]

3:55 That's so me!

[@kevinmoore.7426]

Hi guys, I love your show !

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Kevin.

[@freqeist]

oh, theres my Greggs flip flop, did you collect it?

[@pwhitewick]

In the post!

[@Andrewjg_89]

Winchester and Salisbury isn’t too far away. Probably some 30 miles and crossing from Hampshire to Wiltshire. As both counties have great history. Very nice woodland as well.

[@JarkkoHietaniemi]

For future people wondering what's "agar" which YT obviously miscaptioned: it's agger, "1. In Roman antiquity, an earthwork or any artificial mound or rampart, as, in Rome, the agger of Servius Tullius. 2. A Roman road or military way, so called because these roads were raised in the middle to turn water to the sides. 3. An earthwork; a mound; a raised work."

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

I suspect the Roman roads were abandoned once their surfaces stated to wear out as we lost the skills and technology needed to maintain them and so we reverted to the earlier routes.

[@dodgydruid]

Most people today are sorely misled in thinking London has always been the administrative and government capital of England when it was the Norman's who controlled much of the old London wards who saw to moving the regional capitals to consolidate them into one city. Winchester was prior to this a very important capital city of England whilst London was more the era's ebay of the times, it was pretty much a great trading port and the importance of the old Roman roads aided the commerce of the land both importing and exporting something us Briton's have done for millennia with goods coming in from the near and far east, even African goods and Britain became a favourite place for people like Egyptian merchants to retire to due to the cooler weather.

[@neilfranklin5644]

Amazing work you two

[@nathansmith7153]

Used to go there at lunch when I worked at IBM in Hursley.

[@EngineerLewis]

Welcome to .. the wonderful world of Wessex! 😅

[@pwhitewick]

Tis wonderful isn't it.

[@theotherchannel2279]

11:59 Blimey give you car a clean!!! 😂😂🤣🤣😂😂

[@taffythegreat1986]

You would think if the romans built roads from A to B that’s if there wasn’t a better route. That these would be used today. In the sense they would be widened. I heard but I can’t verify it. That the A48 around cowbridge vale of Glamorgan area was once a Roman road and was widened over the years. But I don’t think it was widened from the Roman period. The only reason I say this is because there are old cottages adjacent to the road with no front gardens. It’s as if they widened the road. Always interesting your videos 👍👍

[@Jimyjames73]

Very Good - thought I'd recognised some of it b/c you did say you both have been there b4!!! 🤔🚂🚂🚂