The Roman Road That Wiggled!

[@BarryRowlingsonBaz]

Quick LiDAR note for people - you usually get DTM and DSM data. The DSM (Digital Surface Model) is derived from the first lidar reflections and returns the tops of trees and vegetation, the DTM (Digital Terrain Model) comes from the later reflections that come from the ground. For road detection, you need the DTM map!

[@rhodsullivan7773]

Our Latin teacher Mr Putnam took us out in his LWB Landrover as we had double Latin between morning break and dinner time so the trip included these breaks. One of the most interesting lessons I ever had. He brought to life the Roman roads and fort at Caersws and showed us what to look for. Just as you are doing now. This was in 1967 and I have forgotten most of the Latin I was tought but never forgot that day. "Felix dies". Happy days.

[@grahamskilling2147]

Bill Putnam?

[@rhodsullivan7773]

@@grahamskilling2147 Yes I think his name was Bill but it was a long time ago. He lived and taught in Newtown Powys.

[@meirionevans5137]

God bless Mr Putnams everywhere.

[@sianwarwick633]

All Latin teachers are a bit mad. Mine was too

[@rhodsullivan7773]

@@sianwarwick633 Ita quidem 😂

[@frankgulla2335]

Thank you, Paul and Rebecca, for this insight into "hunting the wild Roman road."

[@ColinH1973]

There was recently a Roman Road positively identified after many years of conjecture in North Yorkshire, near my home. Exciting stuff!! Thanks for this, to both of you!

[@pwhitewick]

Very cool

[@sr6424]

Something special here. You are in Southern England in beautiful countryside, nearly deserted. What great way to spend a day.

[@pwhitewick]

It was a very nice day indeed.

[@StephenAndon]

Hi Paul, really liked your Find a Roman Road especially the church bit, back in 91 I lived in Darlington and we’d go on walks on Hadrian’s wall and surrounding Roman sites, I bought a book on Roads by a French guy and learnt that if you knew that a road was in an area but not indication of where to look you should look for traces of an old building or church because in medieval times folk would build on disused Roman roads as it was an excellent base and location . So I was pretty excited that you were placing the church with the road. I now live in South Carolina USA and the only places to explore are revolutionary sites and plantations. Keep up the amazing videos. Stephen.

[@RobertChandler52]

I thoroughly enjoy how you do your research and exploring. Please continue. Not too many Roman roads here in North Carolina so I enjoy hiking along with you and Rebecca.

[@frankjoseph4273]

I love you guys. This is the stuff i did when i was 10, and watching you makes me younger. Thank you.

[@AITCHTWOOH]

Chapel Common is my local dog walking space .... if you go in winter, when the ferns are not growing, a long stretch of agger and ditches are unmissable. There are several other localities near Liphook and Bordon where you can see the still intact Roman road without any guess work required. My family rents a field that is directly traversed by the course of the Chichester to Silchester road, but unfortunately no sign of it there. Incidentally, just for the record, Milland is pronounced with the stress on the 2nd syllable, mill -AND, and Iping is pronounced with a long first I, "eye ping". Great video. If you come again, explore the ancient and interesting disused Tuxlith Chapel next to Milland Church, near the top of the steps you showed on the video. Well worth a visit!

[@richtiff]

Don't know how I missed this one nearly a year ago, but sat watching the bit in the church thinking, "is that where the expression, pull up a pew, comes from?" Another great video guys!

[@bellendcottage8820]

Paul and Rebecca, I live in Nebraska, far from anything Roman, roads or otherwise. It however doesn't prevent from loving your content! Thank you for wonderful viewing.

[@rickansell661]

Greetings from the son of the former 'Miss Todd' - one of the two teachers in the Village School at Cocking (just east of Diddling) during the early 1950s. I shall be showing her this. She was told at the time by an archaeologist working near that village all sorts of things that don't appear in the Sites and Monuments record, including that the original Roman Road went through Cocking and only later moved to Linch Farm. I have much scepticism on this, and a few other things, - basically the known lines don't match a side wander to what is an only moderately better point to drop down the Downs (if you are a Roman). Early trackway on that route, using the natural line through West Dean, yes, maybe? The much later 'Chichester, Dell Quay and Fernhurst Turnpike', definite yes. Roman Road - almost certain Nope. Thanks for the reminder to join the RRRA. Been intending to for a while but never got round to it.

[@AndyJarman]

Cocking near Didling? You are having me on !

[@JimNicholls]

Very interesting, and I'm happy that you seem to have finally got the pronunciation of Ivan Margary's name correct!

[@kevinburd7444]

Hi Paul and Rebecca.I very much enjoyed watching this on Sunday 6/8/2023.The following day on B.B.C. Radio Devon lunchtime news it was announced that Exeter University had released information on it's latest research into the Roman road network for Devon and Cornwall.62 additional miles of road had been identified and that the main focus of the network was not Exeter but the town of North Tawton further West.The Roman fort at North Tawton has been known about for many years and scholars assumed it's name to be Nemetostatio.This name appears in a document called the Ravenna Cosmography although historian Michael Wood questions this as another fort was discovered at Bury Barton near Lapford which he believes to be Nemetostatio and North Tawton fort to be Tavo.Nymet in the Celtic language meant " Sacred Grove ".Kind Regards and keep up the good work !

[@traceymurphy3469]

Enjoyable video Paul & Rebecca. Thankyou for covering this. Superbly researched. We've tracked Margary Route 155 & been on the Roman Road on Iping Common. Great stuff!!

[@brianartillery]

Iping. That set a bell ringing in my brain - it's the name of the place where H.G. Wells set 'The Invisible Man', although I think he transferred it to being in Kent. I've read most of the books you suggest, but my favourite, and one I used to 'tick places off my wishlist' (not physically, as it was a bloody expensive book), has to be 'The Modern Antiquarian' by former pop star, Julian Cope.

[@familylife3624]

Nice video Paul and Rebecca looking very well both of you , I've walked a couple of Roman roads one near me at the side of Ogden reservoir, Halifax or so it's said

[@dave_h_8742]

Done that. For the al gorithem really

[@leonardjackman354]

Thank you Paul and Rebecca for another great informative video on Roman roads.

[@martinmarsola6477]

Thank you for the walking tour with you both today. Always look forward to Sundays for the trip. Cheers Rebecca and Paul! ❤❤😊😊

[@jessicagarbett7334]

Thanks

[@pwhitewick]

Thank you Jessica

[@apuldram]

By coincidence, I’ve been planning to do a bike trip between Chichester and Alton, following the alleged route of the Roman Road. Needless to say, you’ve not only hit on some of my questions, but clarified some points too. Your LRDG (Long Range Desert Group) to my mass regiments (not a particularly fast off-road cyclist) 😂

[@shahad_alsayed]

I always wondering about who are burried on those ancient graves..finally I know a little..thank you for sharing the information and the journey of finding roman roads..there are lots of things to learn..excellent channel 👍

[@jimferry6539]

I love Roman roads, they’re so under appreciated. People give a lot of credit to our canals and railways for our industrial past but I doubt much of that would of existed if it wasn’t for them, in many cases it’s difficult to say what came first, the town and cities or the Roman roads that connected them, now I’m thinking about it would we even have much of country if we didn’t have them 😅 🤷‍♂️. I have spent abit of time recently researching my Roman road, the one that I live on (margary 712) and what I found is actually remarkable lol sorry I get a little over enthusiastic perhaps when it comes to our Roman roads

[@ajay-xjs]

You two have a great channel, informative and lighthearted fun and fantastic camera shots.

[@pdxyadayada]

Brilliant! I’m a ‘connect the dots’ kind of guy, and that’s exactly what you do. It’s very enjoyable, and educational, too!

[@MrNas42]

You both tell these stories so well. There is so much to learn.

[@charlieskelhorn]

Thanks to you Paul, I've been getting into this. I started by googling Roman finds near me and low and behold there's a Roman road that comes within 100ft of my house!! It's the one from Wilderspool to Chesterton (King Street) I live in Sandbach. And by the way, this one has a wiggle in it to.

[@buzsalmon]

We always need to say a most sincere THANK YOU to Rebecca and You for all you share with us!

[@Gez-C]

Another great video! I’ve walked some of these sections of the Roman road from Chichester

[@syncrosimon]

What beautiful countryside, very interesting thanks.

[@markstevens9429]

Great video. Growing up in the Fens of Cambridgeshire I was always fascinated by the route if a Roman Road to the north of my home town of March. You can follow it a certain wa in the maps and then it dissappears. Looks like it travelled east-west from Peterborough eastwards. Now I know what to look for I'll try and find it 👍👍

[@AndyJarman]

Do you know the origins of you home town March? I lived in Manchester for a while and there was a major road called Pallantine Road. This all referred to the March Counties being border territory with Wales. Often places of unrest. The king would seat his eldest sons in the Marches to secure the borders and to teach the future king state craft and the marsh-al arts. Pallantine being derived from the seven hills around road where the nobility of classical Rome would raise their young princelings in preparation for rule.

[@victoriaeads6126]

I live in Virginia, so no Roman Roads around here, but if you know what to look for you can tell which roads are based on old market roads and tracks. Some are likely pre-European, though that's a bit harder to determine. Your videos are wonderful!

[@davidberlanny3308]

What a great video that was, fascinating. Its a part of if the world I know, I even have those OS maps!!, and have camped on Iping common, just by the trig point ..... you wont find any of my remains there though!! What a great find that coin was, you were lucky to bump into to him and his son. The lidar looks a very useful tool, perhaps one that you could explain in more depth in your podcast. I guess most of the A27 between Chichester and Portchester must have been built on the Roman Road. The castle is well worth a visit and there is a little known abandoned railway on the hill ...... Great video, well done, have a great week

[@TheLastSock]

Nice to see my old neck of the woods

[@chrish5319]

Thank you for another excellent video. It is a small world, I know one of the people who signed the visitor book in the church and have pointed them at this video. LIDAR is wonderful, I volunteer with the LIDAR citizen science project on Cranborne Chase

[@Sim0nTrains]

Really enjoyable video.... Wonder how that French coin ended up in England being honest. Also noticed how you pronounced Ivan Margary different in this video as well.

[@pwhitewick]

Haha... cheers Simon. I've no clue why I struggle so much with basics.. but I've finally got around the getting Margary correct... I think.

[@CharlesStearman]

According to a fact-based historical novel I read recently, there were French exiles from the revolution living in the New Forest area, so there could have been others elsewhere in southern England.

[@mayfieldcourt]

Excellent analysis - many thanks for sharing

[@CheersWarren]

I was in Flanders a while back and found some large WW11 German graveyards where all the marker were cast iron crosses! Cheers Warren

[@johncampbell730]

Thanks for another video for me to geek out on. I once spent an entire Christmas Day trying to follow the course of the aqueduct that fed Great Chesters Fort on Hadrian's Wall. Not with amazing success. Feel free to come up that far and have a go yourselves. I'd love to see a video of that. I suspect you'll have more success than I. 😊

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

Mansio also gave us Manse, the dwelling place of a priest more often used in Scotland rather then England.

[@johnstilljohn3181]

Brilliant...! That Lidar is magic, really....

[@dt528bmw]

I Love the channel. This type of extraordinary visual explaination of history is rapidly disappearing and we really appreciate your effort in sharing your knowledge with us. Many thanks.

[@pwhitewick]

Thank you very much!

[@Hobbie-s7w]

Not too many Roman Roads in Australia! However on the ligar you showed was it the line or depression next to it. Maybe could you put an arrow showing which. Love your videos. Cheers, David - NSW

[@daijoboukuma]

Greatly enjoy the music as well. Really helps to set the tone.

[@robertdonaldson6584]

I went to international boarding school in Lausanne Switzerland, If you want to see Roman Roads it went along the water front, Lec Leman, (Lake Geneva). I lived there, but you can stay at the Beau Rivage Hotel on the lake and walk along the sidewalk the Romans used. There are stone structures along the sidewalk made by the Romans. There are lots of stone Roman Roads you can walk on in Switzerland in many places.

[@alanmcculloch9177]

Thanks for the video. Makes me want to find the ones in Scotland.

[@pwhitewick]

That would be an interesting hobby... do it and keep us posted.

[@Davidm1fcf]

Interesting article on Cornwall Live in the last few days. “Hidden Roman road network uncovered in Devon and Cornwall” is the headline, and feels very much in line with this video. Great job as always!

[@Carpe-Diem]

We live in Portugal. And although there is some incredible Roman sites the roads are similarly ambiguous in places

[@cerealport2726]

How exactly do I find Roman roads...? I watch your channel, obviously...!

[@louisesouthgate5231]

We live not far from Stane Street which has always fascinated us. Tried to follow it through some woods once, near Leith Hill, but got horribly lost!

[@playwithmeinsecondlife6129]

We don't have any Roman Roads in Pennsylvania but my uncle who was still with us in the last century claimed that any unfamiliar winding road we were on was an old Indian path. I'm sure there must have been indian paths in my country as it was well populated as the Iron Age Brits must have made paths as well but my Uncle was no archeologist.

[@sianwarwick633]

But, you ? metal detector ? Old maps ?

[@playwithmeinsecondlife6129]

@@sianwarwick633 I was joking. This was an ongoing gag of my uncle's, that a Native American must have had his nose to ground plotting out the trail which was later paved as a state highway. He was of that WWII generation that made racist jokes with no malice.

[@geoffreysouthworth5933]

Paul and Rebecca I live in an 1882 house but on a site of one of two Roman forts in the North of England near a river crossing. Enjoy the work you do Geoff

[@tobycowman]

If you want a Roman road route to trace wiggles on check out Dere Street through the Cheviot hills.

[@robinjones6999]

Fascinating (as always) and superbly filmed

[@AndyJarman]

Yes he does indulge in some ambitious camera work sometimes. He was interviewing a guy about "right to roam" in a video I was watching yesterday. I was trying to count the number of cameras he must have used to film this poor chap, I counted at least four!

[@MrGreatplum]

Didling Church is known as the shepherd’s church so it’s great to see all those sheep on your drone footage of it! I think Stane Street is my most local Roman road - goes straight through Ockley which isn’t that far away.

[@gaffysmenk]

Many years ago when they were improving the track which later became Stockport Rd (A560) across Cheadle Heath, Stockport (then a heath, now full of houses) they came across a roman road, several feet below ground level.

[@sharonfoot95]

Great Video. I am a complete novice but went to Binswood (not far from Oakhanger) yesterday and found an Agger (I think) both where the Roman road enters the wood from the south and where the footpath crosses it in the middle of the wood. Both sites located using OS map on my gps. Just a slight rise!

[@LKBRICKS1993]

Excellent video. I really enjoyed watching this one. Learning about the Roman roads is so fascinating.

[@davewatson309]

There's a group of those old iron grave markers at Abbey Cwm Hir church, Powys

[@pwhitewick]

First time I've ever seen them!

[@AndyJarman]

Local black Smith's contribution? Finding decent stone in Sussex is not an easy task.

[@derekr1113]

Great video as always. I will now start to investigate Roman roads in Luxembourg.

[@AndyJarman]

I thought you lot kept them at arm's length! Or were you part of Gaul in those days?

[@allanchurm]

yep the romans use good clay for there roads ..potters later in history use to dig it out and leave a hole .. ( hence the word we use round the world ) pot holes

[@meme4one]

We have some broken road lines in my local area that are definitely going to be investigated when I'm back from hols 👍

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

As always, this is a very interesting and informative video. The only exposed piece of 'Roman' road I've seen, many years ago, was near Cinderford in the Forest of Dean. Marked as such on OS, but now I gather, there are doubts about it's origins. It looked pretty convincing to my untutored eye, at the time of my visit. So, I guess, after identifying a likely route, how do you assess whether it's Roman or not? Excavate?

[@pwhitewick]

Pretty much yup. Wide context is always useful and searching out the records as to why OS have labelled it a RR. That would help identify if any research has already been done. Failing that.... excavation.

[@jefffixesit60]

No known Roman roads are in far west Texas, but we do have the Chihuahua Trail, which is roughly 400 years old, and runs from Chihuahua City, Mexico to San Antonio, Texas. Thanks to the semi arrid desert terrain, old roads and trails are easy to see to see from a small plane or drone, and metal detection was the primary method used by the University of Texas to chart the more eroded or farmed sections. Happy trail-finding, maybe we'll cross paths someday!😊

[@granvillehorn6832]

I’ve learned more about Roman roads from you two, and I haven’t even had to leave Washington State, USA. Thanks for your efforts.

[@shirleylynch7529]

Really interesting. Beautiful countryside. Weather looked good for your explore . Thank you for enjoyable vlog.

[@WagnerGimenes]

Love your work, guys. Thanks for the content.

[@russellhaley6909]

I suspect that at some ridges, etc., where the road is “lost”, but there are a few different options, then they could have used a number of the tracks, depending on season and conditions.

[@grahammoore-sm5hc]

What a great video, really interesting and informative. Paul and Rebecca are a great match and obviously enjoy what they do. I think its great that they take the time to share their adventures.

[@R08Tam]

Like you, I'm not religious but love churches. They're part of our heritage. Your videos are fascinating.

[@AndyJarman]

If you look at the rate the population around the Cistercian Abbey's grew after the church was formed, organised Christianity was quite a boon when it arrived. I think it lent stability and cohesion to life independent of the toil of food production. Imagine being told the bible stories by people who had dedicated their lives to the book that contained them. It would have been amazing.

[@AndyBsUTube]

Nice video - interesting as always.

[@chrisfrost8456]

Great Video thanks 😊

[@georgeallen7101]

With Fishbourne palace and bignor villa in the area of Chichester l would expect a good road and specific military roads .

[@pwhitewick]

Absolutely. I did mention that in a waffle, but it didn't make the edit for reasons I forget!

[@aengusmacnaughton1375]

P&R -- so how did the Romans "survey" the course of their roads -- they seem to start with the intention of a straight-line road from one settlement to another, and, as you point out, adjust it as needed due to the landscape -- but back in the Roman-British period, a good bit of the land was wooded, and, in most cases not flat -- so what tools/methods did they use to keep themselves "pointed" at the destination while working out the route of the road?

[@Joanna-il2ur]

Dead reckoning. Roman Britain was less wooded than we suppose. The need to smelt iron from about 500BC (we were behind the Greeks) meant a lot of charcoal which in turn means burning a lot of wood first. Peter Salway reckons the population of Roman Britain was between five and nine million. The Romans ploughed further up the contours of hills than later periods until Dig for Victory in WWII. Under supposed ancient woodlands there are crop pollens and plough marks.

[@EGDD-42]

Big flat open fields were occasionally reserve airfeilds, satellite landing grounds and maintenance bases for the RAF in WW2. There is a list of them you need to search for local train stations or villages as they were named after the local telegraph office. All they often were was a big flat bit of land with hedges removed, some tents and nissen huts so vanished overnight when closed.

[@christophernoble6810]

The Romans liked to keep as much as possible to the high ground because in winter the low ground would likely be very wet and make progress difficult. That would be the first thing to look for in identifying the course of a Roman road.

[@ericvaninwegen6384]

How do I find a Roman Road? Well, living in Massachusetts, I think that's going to be a bit of a challenge. The earliest road I've been able to find only goes back to ~1630's. (Old Connecticut Trail) I found it because someone put a sign up along it. ;-)

[@alexanderguesthistorical7842]

Fantastic! I used to go down the road south of Milland every working day to and from work, when I lived in Fernhurst. I remember it as being a Roman road, so it's fascinating to see where the road led to just past the village. I did get in contact with the Roman Road Research body and asked them about the A75 road going through Dunragit in Scotland, where my house is. It's mentioned in several books as being a Roman road, but despite that the RRR completely refuted the fact that there is any evidence of it being Roman at all! Very strange. There's a recently discovered marching camp at Glenluce, I can demonstrate that "Leucopibia" on Ptolemy's map is probably Old Luce (in other words Glenluce), there are multiple Roman forts at Castle Douglas, but still I can't find the missing section of Roman road that would prove there was a link from Dumfries, not to Stranraer (as it's a recent town), but to Portpatrick, and a potential crossing place to Ireland. Lidar would be EXTREMELY useful in this, but alas it's not available for Scotland. Very frustrating. There's a challenge for you! Liked and subscribed.

[@AndyJarman]

You'd think metal detector clubs would club together to fund a LiDAR drone?

[@balforitown4274]

Hi guys found your channel by accident as over the years I’ve found myself accidentally living next to railways, Even now at 59 I have a narrow gauge station (live) at the bottom of my front garden,The first one was opposite Wood Green Train Yard in London 50yrs ago lol, Anyway watched a few of your videos and saw one from 3 months ago where you talked about doing your own channel as your weekly ones were taken there toll, ( I’m sure it is) Did this ever happen ????Andy, Ps love all the old train stuff even did this myself aged 16 lol. Keep up the great work

[@freqeist]

Like the darker hair Rebecca

[@davefrench3608]

Always been fascinated by Roman roads. Nearest stuff to me is the fabulous Saxon shore fort at portchester.

[@firesurfer]

Not too many Roman roads here in the Bronx, but I did discover the actual route of a torn down el railroad near where I grew up only last week.

[@sawyerhja]

Well researched and very entertaining. Ivan Margary would have approved. Seriously.

[@michaelmiller641]

Fascinating stuff! Paul and Rebecca! Thanks!

[@AndrewRobinson-b8y]

I live in saffron Walden north Essex and there’s a Roman road between Radwinter and Gt Chesterford lovely to walk along

[@836dmar]

Very cool stuff! We are in the states but will have to explore these next time we are “over the pond”.

[@MattBrunton1965]

Great content, thanks for all the uploads!

[@pwhitewick]

Glad you like them!

[@rogermorris6957]

😊Thanks Paul for another very interesting and thorough inspiring vlog keep up the great work

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks, will do!

[@mydeskismyworkshop2412]

The metal grave markers are probably for "paupers' graves" paid for by the parish, or possibly for other people who couldn't afford a normal stone headstone - they were quite a bit cheaper

[@Woodentops1]

Absolutely love it. Thank you both. Jeff

[@davie941]

hello again Paul and Rebecca , very interesting video as always , that church was really nice , really well done and thank you both 😊😍

[@3wheeler1000]

We have 'Roman Road' in Hereford. It looks like it went to Worcester, or down to Gloucester. The obvious bit is just that, but each end of it isn't ! Great video guys!

[@jimshutt4694]

It went to Magna, crosses the Wye at where the Weir Gardens now are, and then went South. Magna was a Roman Town north of Hereford, the area now known as Kenchester. Aerial photos are in Hereford museum.

[@eze8970]

TY 🙏🙏

[@ynot6473]

my nearest roman road is Tillbridge lane. it runs from RAF Scampton through Marton to the river Trent. i drive along it most Wednesday evenings.

[@thewanderer360]

Brilliant info there is so much hidden to find. Thank you

[@patrickcol]

Has anyone worked out just how much man power and time it would take to build a section of road? It seems extraordinary that there are so many miles of road built by hand.

[@pwhitewick]

10,000 plus in the UK. I'd love to see a video on "How Long did it take to build a Roman Road".

[@graemer3657]

Labour is plentiful if you build outside of the growing season.

[@bonch-vp2sd]

I reckon your style of archaeology and history presentation would be perfectly suited to a parish scale approach - think the common stream or men of dunwich. Ie Find an interesting parish and tell rhe entire story, maybe across multiple videos, it would bring up so many overlapping stories and you may end up finding new stuff as well

[@pwhitewick]

Couldn't agree more. Although never heard of the Parish approach. There are stories everywhere for sure and they just need a click to sell them.

[@kingloser4198]

I'd love to know more about the Abbotsbury train station line :) No mystery there.. or is there 😲

[@angelaknisely-marpole7679]

Excellent! A second vote for the RRRA!

[@YannaTarassi]

Lovely video as always :)