How this ROMAN ROAD moved an entire Town

Welcome to this weeks little production. A quick couple of notes:
1. A big thanks to David Staveley for making a detailed video on this route using some Lidar. This was purely the inspiration to make this video: • A New Roman Road in No...
2. We are not historians. We enjoy researching and learning stuff, and with that we enjoy sharing our journeys with you. That said, sources for information often listed below with credits.
This week we explore a new found Roman Road which doesn't seem to add up at all. In fact it runs broadly parallel to another. Whats going on here and can this help us find a lost Roman Town!?
ALL Lidar work by @ Phil_M_Barrett (Twitter)
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Credits (Public domain if not stated):
Filter: Snowman Digital and Beachfront B-Roll
Maps: Google Maps
Maps: National Library of Scotland
Maps: OS Maps. Media License.
Stock Footage: Storyblocks
Music: Storyblocks
Silchester Town Image: Ivan Lapper

[@pwhitewick]

Hey All. Please do go check out David Staveley's original video for this which gives greater detail than my waffle! kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqLXhaKfebl5m5o

[@davidstaveley]

Thanks Paul!

[@pwhitewick]

@@davidstaveley all done. Pinned comment too.

[@motherfolkinrhymes3836]

I think sometimes we forget that the Romans built their road network on Britain over a period of 300+ years. The first roads were primarily for military use and would link the forts and the main centres of control in each region. As the population changed and became more aligned with the Roman cuture, less focus was put on military routes and new commercial ventures were undertaken, with this there would be a need for new towns and commercial hubs. This would call for the addition of new link roads and in some cases these new routes would take precedent over earlier ones as they were more direct for trade and commerce. In some cases, such as lead or iron mines, a road might be built from the mine to transport the ores but after 15-20 years they had exhausted that source and the mine went out of use which in turn meant the miners left, the small town was no longer needed and the road was also abandoned. Roman road builders didn't start with a plan, they just joined the dots between places of importance at the time. As new places became important, more dots were joined. I think they can be excused if after 300 odd years of joining dots there are a few lines that don't seem to make sense! Thank you for taking us exploring again, another fascinating video.

[@stephenarbon2227]

True enough, but some of those commercial type roads probably predated the Romans, and they came along and upgraded them into Romanised B roads, not as direct as the military roads, but more useful. Examples of N/S parallel routes exist to the East of the Fens.

[@pwhitewick]

Yup. The time scales are often (in my head) merged into one generation.

[@christopherdavies7213]

But why go to the bother - and expense - of building a parallel road? It makes no sense, unless there was a problem with the first road. Why not simply connect to the previous road, assuming the landscape allows? It seems a very peculiar and costly thing to do.

[@kaikiefer499]

Very well done again. Some people hunt trains, Paul hunts roman roads. 🤣 I enjoyed going on the hunt with you very much. 👌

[@pdxyadayada]

I’m fascinated with how the steady cam’s shadow does not waver…great technology. The music is enjoyable and the ‘content’ (I hate the term) is superb. Of the hundreds of YT productions I follow, your weekly production is one of the best. Thank you for all the effort you put into them. Bravo!

[@pwhitewick]

Thank you. Very kind. Yes the GoPro (used for that segment) is really rather curious as to its stability!

[@philhawley1219]

@@pwhitewick Paul, may I thank you for getting back to what you do best. Namely delving in to our history and digging up obscure nuggets that no one has ever considered before. Last week I commented on the lack of access to certain areas that were deemed to be public open spaces. This ruffled the feathers of some of your viewers and others agreed with me. Perhaps today's episode of your diligent investigation is simply an ancient version of a modern problem. As the old saying goes 'There is nothing new under the Sun'.

[@user-mm9jq6xz8l]

The steadiness of the camera shadow is because it's filmed by the camera isn't it?

[@peterthomerson3607]

Fascinating. Thoroughly researched and interesting.

[@leonardjackman354]

Paul and Rebecca lots of lost Roman History to be found keep up these great videos.

[@tomlee812]

I always look forward to a Sunday evening, when I can settle down and go to KZbin. Your channel is always the first one I visit and today's production was as fascinating as ever. Thank you for all the work you put into making these videos for us.

[@willhemmings]

Fascinating. There is a similar parallel road system just south of Akeman Street in Oxfordshire (Oxoniensia 2021). These routes may have been first surveyed then later revised. Calleva is interesting, because it provides an alternative place to London giving road access to everywhere west of Londinium, therefore an important hub for the westward expansion. I have a hunch that a road went north-east from Calleva to St Albans (Verulamium), but I live elsewhere and can't check it out. Best of luck in your search for Vindomi. My big interest is the section of Foss Way between Jackaments Bottom and Nettleton; scarcely an agger, even less a highway, just an alignment and an alternative route further west. Something happened there

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

I totally get the 2 bits in the woods. 1) the joy of being able to see the agger on alignment. 2) confusing a later track with a Roman road. The highs and the lows! Great video, Paul.

[@Sim0nTrains]

Seeing Basingstoke on the map makes me wonder if the Romans ever got off at Basingstoke 😂Seriously a great video Paul

[@kaikiefer499]

No, they didn't, see last weeks video to find out why 🤣 Even the Romans didn't want to get off there 😁

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

Many timed. Many, many times.

[@johngravett3568]

After all the years that I Have lived in Basingstoke and done a lot of research of the area I did not know about the other Roman road until now Thanks Paul for that knowledge

[@pwhitewick]

Caught me off guard too!!

[@TrevsTravelsByNarrowboat]

I use to love walking around Calleva years ago when I lived in Basingstoke.

[@petermostyneccleston2884]

According to the University of Reading, Silchester was a Bronze age settlement, which the Romans took over. If you asked the students, when they are digging up Silchester, they will tell you that the angle of the houses, compared to the roads, means that the people who lived there were the Bronze age families, who allowed themselves to be taken over by the Romans. Is it possible that the other road, went through similar settlements?

[@pwhitewick]

The Romans took over the iron Age settlement. Specifically the Atrebates tribe.

[@andrewradgick4424]

There's also a conundrum on the road from Silchester to Pontes (Staines). There was a Roman township midway between the two towns at Wickham Bushes in Swinley Forest. However it not ON the road if we believe the current straight alignment. There is a suggestion that, due the lie of the land, the road actually had a kink to the north to reach the township

[@tardismole]

It looked so perfect. My elation and then gutted. That's archaeology for you. But the new road is intriguing. A pity Time Team is no longer around. They could have found that lost town in three days.

[@nick-c]

They are! They've recently restored as a KZbin channel...

[@jackpatplod174]

Just where you speculated the location of the lost town, I noticed the OS map shows ‘earthworks’. It would have been useful for you to quickly mention the known history of those earthworks just to close down any speculation viewers might have had - like me.

[@ditch3827]

I think they are recent as there is no mention of them on pre-M3 OS maps.

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

@@ditch3827 OK, you've just floated another entertaining hobby for larrikins! Scattering scrap Roman pottery shards in motorway borrow pits! Keep the eggheads scratching their heads for years. 🙄😁

[@leannemaidment5224]

Absolutely fascinating! I got so excited when you found what looked like the Roman Road in the woods, gutted that wasn't it!

[@davefrench3608]

Just love your work on Roman roads, and by implication Roman towns.

[@martinmarsola6477]

Thank you for today’s trekking on the probable Roman Road. A breathtaking probability of it. Hello to Rebecca and see you on the next, Paul. Enjoy your week ahead. ❤️❤️🇬🇧🇬🇧👍👍🙂🙂🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne]

Cracking video, great entertainment as well as informative. Many thanks for all the time and effort you put into making this content.

[@davidberlanny3308]

Very interesting video and very well presented as always. Lidar is such a valuable tool. Perhaps it was a relief road to allow more legions to depart south at the same time? Have a great week!!

[@intractablemaskvpmGy]

Maybe to relieve congestion in the town, at the gates and on the roads? Perhaps it was a toll road. Did the Romans have such a thing? Very interesting

[@andrewlamb8055]

Loved it Paul!! Thank you again…. More of this please 👍👍⚔️⚔️👏👏🌎🌎

[@macaidwin]

And again an exciting video. 😍

[@davidswheatley-talesfromth1796]

At 8:00 seconds, The Motte and Bailey is listed as a ROMAN FORT on the 25 inch map of 1892-1914

[@user-it7lf7kk8m]

Maybe the two parallel roads were north bound and southbound carriageways🙂 those first set of walls were truly spectacular. Never knew they existed . Excellent video, most interesting.

[@pwhitewick]

Well... you jest.... but... why not!?

[@highpath4776]

@@pwhitewick Indeed Winchester was pretty important, as was Silchester , so how did "traffic" pass ? Presumably the lost town was a horse changeover point/march break and a lot of coming and going , and management into and aroud silchester west gate might have been needed

[@TheDalaiLamaCon]

I'm skint so here's a comment for the algo : Love this channel, makes my Sunday like 80's telly used to. Thanks.

[@richieixtar5849]

Very interesting as always .. thank you for Sunday evenings :)

[@paulinehedges5088]

Fasconating. Thank you SO much for this ...makes one query some of the alledged 'facts' that we are told. Lovely scenery too.

[@RossMaynardProcessExcellence]

One of your most interesting videos - ever! The Romans were here for centuries so it is perfectly possible that one route superceded the other. Keep searching for that lost city Indiana Whitewick.

[@pwhitewick]

Many thanks!

[@leeclift4666]

Really interesting cheers for posting Paul 👍👍👍

[@davie941]

hello again Paul and Rebecca, this was very interesting , really well done and thank you for another cool video 😊😍

[@shirleylynch7529]

Enthusiastic explore. What amazing history you are able to search and find. Thoroughly enjoyed this . Thank you.

[@raphaelnikolaus0486]

Lovely narration. Lovely pictures/angles. Lovely edit.

[@SamWalksALot]

Absolutely love walking around Silchester, and now I know a little bit more! Great video Paul!

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Sam

[@ColinH1973]

Really enjoyed this one, Paul. Happy hunting!!

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks colin

[@caminojohn3240]

Thanks for checking this stuff out but I feel that some of this is the equivalent of asking how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. Human nature and economics are a constant. No one spends resources on a road without a purpose. Even if a new town is off the official route. It's cheaper to build two branches than several miles of new road.

[@pwhitewick]

Good question!, it remains a mystery and one that lives in my head.

[@StephenDavenport-zqz2ub]

I love these Roman road videos. It would be interesting if you could find the remains of a Mansio along these roads. This might indicate if the road was a main road in Roman times.

[@pwhitewick]

Absolutely. I think the only solution is to get the shovel out.

[@JP_TaVeryMuch]

3:37 As soon as I saw the over planned town of Basingstoke, I knew that all bets were off, strange anomalies will abound, no explanations will be forthcoming, in fact the only thing of which any visitor or hapless denizen can be certain sure is that's too many bloody roundabouts hereabouts.

[@nendwr]

I think there's a simple answer: Vindomis was a pre-Roman settlement on top of the 168m/550ft high hill south of North Waltham (an odd name - did the hill settlement survive to become a DMV as well?), and the parallel route was to bypass the gradients.

[@dghdavies]

I loved this, the info was great as usual and I can feel your production skills rising to the next level.

[@pwhitewick]

Thank you 😊

[@Hairnicks]

Fabulous investigation Paul.

[@britishlongbarrows]

Great spot! 🙂

[@QALibrary]

yet another top-draw video - well done

[@LKBRICKS1993]

Excellent very interesting.

[@sawyerhja]

Another cracking video, P & R. You certainly do your research.

[@paulbillingham4594]

Its a fascinating subject and as a member of the RRRA like seeing these videos. It would be great if your walks could be managed in a written format with things like car parking and footpath lines with any issues. It would make a fantastic days walk, especially if connected to modern Lidar and research and Ivan Margary's hard work. Thank You

[@MrGreatplum]

Very enjoyable, as ever, Paul. I wonder if one replaced the other - maybe the older road went through land that became too marshy for instance? It would be interesting to know what the geology of the land is there…

[@pwhitewick]

I think the geology is largely chalk. It remains a mystery in my head.

[@bobsrailrelics]

Great bit of research, thanks Paul.

[@pwhitewick]

My pleasure!

[@paulharvey9149]

Fascinating as always, Paul, especially as I have a copy of the relevant OS map to follow! Interesting detail in Davis Staveley's video too - which led to another heading back up the parallel route, which was certainly handy for Park Prewett.... Maybe the western route was built by Roman NIMBY's, eh?? 😁😂😂 Serious question now - as the route is seriously lost around Oakley, is there any way it might have replaced your missing town? Like, could something have happened that destroyed Vindomi a while before the Romans packed their bags, causing the eastern route to be built as there was now no need of the route via Vindomi, which was no longer there; and then a while after they'd gone, Oakley was built in its place?? The landscape would therefore have been destroyed twice, which could explain why there is so little trace in that vicinity?

[@hainanbob6144]

I reckon it was a parallel route because there was so much traffic and the Romans had to implement a one way system! Another nice video Paul, regards to you and the boss.

[@pwhitewick]

You may jest... but why not!

[@swwiftyy]

Hi guys great video again. I was wondering back in Roman times, did battered saussages also run paralel to each other as well?

[@chriscarter6706]

I am absolutely and totally hooked. I love what you two are doing. Not sure how I can contribute, not too tech savvy I'm afraid.

[@pwhitewick]

No panic Chris. Just keep watching and we will be grateful

[@chriscarter6706]

Thanks very much Paul for replying, but if you could explain in simple terms I'd like to help pay towards your work. Is it a patreon? Or something like that.

[@pwhitewick]

@chriscarter6706 thank you Chris. We have either the join button (found here on youtube). Or we are on Patreon under "Paul and Rebecca Whitewick". Should be straight forward ish on either of those.

[@chriscarter6706]

@@pwhitewick I am a dope. Yes all done now thanks Paul. I love the fact you are sometimes around the south west area too. Best wishes. Chris

[@memofromessex]

I learnt to day - there's a bit of weird mystery Roman Road near Blackstone Edge in the Peak District. Read about it - it's either a remarkably well-constructed 17th century drovers path or unusual bit of Roman road. There's loads of odd contradictory things that aren't consistent with either theory. And yes it is exposed with beautiful (unusual) paving, but that's where it really shows it general oddity. Well worth a check out.

[@ruthorgan5902]

Just a question but wondered whether you had visited Caerleon near Newport in Wales. It has a roman barracks, amphitheatre, baths and museum within a small area within the town? Great video.

[@pwhitewick]

Not yet, but it's definitely on the cards

[@hedleythorne]

Loved this adventure, but you knew that. Thanks for the sneaky preview.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks for checking it over. Any mistakes now become your personal responsibility. ;-)

[@hedleythorne]

@@pwhitewick Splendid. What’s my salary?

[@pwhitewick]

@@hedleythorne love and joy.

[@hedleythorne]

@@pwhitewick I'm out.

[@Fozz84]

I'll be interested in what lies beyond Isca or Exeter. the roman roads just can't end. the city is too big.

[@westcountrywanderings]

The Fosse Way went to the River Axe where the Romans had a seaport at present day Axmouth.

[@Crepello100]

The Roman Roads Research Association recently put up a video on YT about that - lots of new lidar info on Devon and Cornwall. I've long known of two roads, one going to Crediton and onwards to Okehampton that is visible on Google Earth, and another that may be Roman or earlier heading south to a hillfort just east of Newton Abbot. Hope this helps.

[@Fozz84]

@@Crepello100 I just found the video. Thanks. I find this really interesting.

[@cerealport2726]

2 almost parallel roads makes me wonder if it wasn't the result of a bureaucratic bungle, or just 2 very rich Romans demanding their own roads.

[@pwhitewick]

Lots of decent theories. I guess we will never know.

[@RichardFelstead1949]

Paul is Roman around the countryside. Great video as always. Greetings from Australia.

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks for watching!

[@ronaldderooij1774]

I have never seen somebody more skillfull at reporting that he did not find what he was looking for and has no idea of why the parallel road was made. Haha.

[@davidswheatley-talesfromth1796]

In and around the Oakley area and south to a possible town of VINDOMI, are a huge amount of chalk pits [see the 6 inch & 25-inch map of area]. Might it be possible that these chalk workings were used by the Romans during their building of houses and villas

[@ditch3827]

Do you think it possible that to build the Silchester - Winchester road they started from both ends hoping to meet in the middle but failed? The team from Winchester wanting the glory of completing the road just ploughed on all the way to Tadley at speed by neglecting to build the side ditches. The team from Silchester eventually got to the point where they could see the other road and cut across making the wiggle we see today and leaving the northern part of the other road redundant. Just a thought.

[@robertdonaldson6584]

I am fiddling Swinging on a Gate on my Violin.

[@Jimyjames73]

An Interesting Video with great views!!! 🙂🚂🚂🚂

[@pwhitewick]

Many thanks!

[@reddrockingeezer]

You do such a great deal of research and study, combined with an engineer's practicality. Do you think you could actually find the lost town? That would be historically spectacular.

[@pwhitewick]

Essentially I think the only step now is to get the bucket and spade out

[@dave_h_8742]

Earth works is marked on the OS map right of where they meet back up 🤷‍♂️ could be that easy.

[@a11csc]

nice one

[@davidstaveley]

Thanks for the mention of my video Paul, but the link in the description didn't work

[@pwhitewick]

Ah thats frustrating. I'll link the video in five mins instead. Maybe that will work better.

[@sirridesalot6652]

I wonder if back then the geography or ground cover war different enough from today to warrant a second easier traveled route?

[@gcujustreadtheinstructions3227]

Where do you get such detailed lidar ?

[@AndrewJohnson-ur3lw]

Could it be a bit like some of the parallel motorways that we have in the UK whereby they give alternative routes betwixt 2 points so that if there is a lot of traffic they can be divided

[@pwhitewick]

I do feel like this could be an option.

[@user-it7lf7kk8m]

Ohhh i thought you were going to find the lost roman city indiana jones style!. Most deflated now. Still ,very interesting. What do you think the false road was in the wood, just a cart track?

[@davidbnsmessex.5953]

I know that various land owners through time have moved roads for their own purposes . Is it possible that is what happened here ? or is the land area too large ? .

[@ejk181186]

what lidar map do you use?

[@pwhitewick]

A man named... Phil

[@willian.direction6740]

Where does one get Lidar software is it freely available.

[@pwhitewick]

Lots of different places, the Environment Agency is the original source.

[@christopherspence6459]

Funny thing is I found this route 2 days ago!

[@pwhitewick]

Oooh... how so?...

[@christopherspence6459]

@@pwhitewick Sorry for a late reply! I was looking at Roman roads on Lidar and accidently found the route. I personally think that this was the original route as it seems contemporary with the Salisbury - Dorchester Roman Road

[@palmertrees]

they had buses! I suppose I better explain, "this gate would have entered into a bustling town" sorry, I'll get my coat.

[@spotonlevel5629]

Thanks for the video. Though I don't think two parallel lines / roads can converge at a point.

[@pwhitewick]

I think they are parallel for maybe... 3 miles. Then the original turns in a wee bit

[@AndrewTBP]

Insert joke about spherical geometry here.

[@womble321]

KZbin un subscribed me despite the fact I've watched every single video. Just thought I'd let you know.

[@pwhitewick]

Thats odd.

[@maryloudascoli]

Rather the Brittunculi were in the wrong place ;)

[@2009numan]

does the modern word aggregate come from the roman word agga

[@pwhitewick]

Oooh I like it. Never thought about that.

[@andrewfarrow4699]

What have the Romans ever done for us ?

[@pwhitewick]

Awaits 276 replies...

[@MianCowell]

Fun game! Take a drink every time Paul says Lidar 😛

[@GEHDunedin]

If you've got a good spot for the town location, send up the Bat-signal for Sir Tony & Time Team!

[@2009numan]

couldn't actually see any signs of a roman road just looked like flat ground with a load of fallen leaves on it

[@pwhitewick]

Very tricky to show

[@davidtomsett]

Paul is sta..aggered

[@2009numan]

you said in the video as no one has yet too find, did you mean as no one's yet found

[@pwhitewick]

Er... yep.