The Lost Roman Roads of Great Britain

I'm always worried that the waffle in my head won't make sense when I try and put it into a video. I felt a bit like that this time round. So forgive the way this might come across, and worst case, maybe watch it twice! ;-)
Welcome to this weeks video in which we attempt to find a Roman B-Road. You are more than likely aware of the Roman Road network, certainly if you have watched any of our previous videos, but this week we ask the question of what a Roman B-Road looked like.
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[@chasbodaniels1744]

Paul, you’re doing the work of researcher, producer, script writer, historical consultant, continuity supervisor, audio guy, director of photography and camera operator PLUS on-air presenter ffs! No need to add the burden of perfect flow, logic and evidence. Always impressed how well you manage all this!

[@pwhitewick]

Haha... thank you. The flow of the story is the one thing I struggle with!

[@dazzlingdaz187]

You can never spend too much time looking at old maps!

[@Dormices]

I agree! It is impossible to waste time on maps.

[@marshallluddite]

My wife would not agree, but i disagree with her on many delightful things, i currently want a side of our kitchen wallpapered in one but she is not convinced.

[@GAZ-TRX]

I think the right way to say it is: There is not enough time to look at old maps for too long

[@michaelbartle7354]

Maps maps maps 😁love them

[@Dormices]

@@marshallluddite You could beg her to give it a chance saying you would paint over it if she hates it but the sight of your happiness should win her over with luck. I moved into a place with a large old local map glued to the wall, it was wonderful!

[@totoro123]

Your documentaries are soo much better than what we currently get from the major broadcasters at the moment!

[@R08Tam]

If you mean the saturation coverage of all things royal I agree

[@admiralcraddock464]

So much on KZbin is first class these days. I rarely watch TV these days as I can find top quality presentations of subjects I'm interested in.

[@philiptownsend4026]

I watched National Geographic this afternoon - occasionally something worth watching comes on but mostly rubbish.

[@CuriousFocker]

@@admiralcraddock464 Agreed. I haven't plugged my television in since mid '21.

[@rsc9520]

@@admiralcraddock464 Me too! Greetings from New Jersey ... (No Roman roads here)

[@TheOriginal_BigMac]

Growing up in Andover I probably spent days poring over the same maps 😄

[@derekambler]

I remember many years ago taking a book out of Hitchin Library written by a group calling themselves 'The Viatores' who traced Roman tracks all over Hertfordshire; it was a fascinating record of tracks and how you recognised them.

[@aengusmacnaughton1375]

Beautiful weather for long walks in the countryside -- hopefully not as hot as it has been!!!! I find it amazing that so much history is under your feet just about anywhere that you step in Britain! And that circular community of Roman villas -- wow! That makes sense.

[@jonpowell9011]

Paul, as you probably know the hedgerow dating is called Hooper's Hypothesis. Great video again.

[@jefflanam]

Mick Aston mentioned it on an episode of Time Team.

[@twotone3070]

Can be a bit hit and miss as I planted holly, hazel and hawthorn in the hedge of my suburban dwelling about 20 years ago to replace a fence and that wasn't 300 years old either :)

[@jandraelune1]

Romans loved geometry in their engineering, lots of uniformity. Likely if you just map a circle with the found stones, and measure the avg distance between, you'll find about where the missing stone should be. I would look where the A303 and the railroad cross next to Sarson.

[@Sim0nTrains]

Wonder with all those villas it was like a posh little village? Great Video Paul.

[@syncrosimon]

Brilliant, thanks, as a child in the 70’s my parents whilst driving to Cornwall would turn NW off the A303 onto the lead road (just past the speed cameras) and drive along towards Stockton Down and Knook. It was a lovely place to picnic and just oozed ancient. I went back there in the 90’s, must go and have a look again. Love Snail Creep Hanging wood, I always tell anyone I am driving with on the A303 that the wood up on the ridge has that name.

[@bigdaddysandcastle1614]

I too spend hours looking at maps. I am told that it was because I was a map maker in several other lifetimes in Europe.

[@teej008]

Living in Warminster I know those tracks up to Great Ridge very well. I knew the track through that woodland was Roman, but the route you took is one of my favourite walks. It’s a little out of the way nowadays, so I’m often the only person up at Great Ridge. I’ve hammock camped there a few times and often imagined the people who have used the road over the millennia. You can definitely feel the history up there.

[@rileyuktv6426]

“B” Class Road - “A” Class Content👍

[@steadynumber1]

Fascinating piece of research Paul. It's when I reflect on the overlay of history in this beautiful island of ours that I realise I can never emigrate. I'm just too rooted to our land, our history & culture. Thank you.

[@RichardAKJ]

It's a great video Paul and your enthusiasm really comes through. Very enjoyable watch.

[@jeffjordan8182]

You were at your best on this one, Paul.

[@mdog111]

I really enjoyed watching this video which was a random YT recommendation. As a small feedback note, I would have appreciated seeing a graphic superimposed onto an OS map, showing the approximate route of your speculative Roman B road which presumably, runs through the circle of villas that you plotted. Your explanation of why you think the road is there makes perfect sense, but apart from drone shots of countryside, you don't show exactly where you think that road ran from and to! But thanks nevertheless for a very interesting video.

[@sirridesalot6652]

I often wonder if your and Rebecca's explorations encourage academics to look further into some of those locales.

[@radiosnail]

Another interesting video. The music is always excellent as well. I have far too man OS maps here and it still doesn't feel like enough. Sometimes it is nice to curl up with a map. I always regarded them as a souvenir to wherever I had visited.

[@malcolmdalrymple1779]

I also had a pile of OS maps, but now I pay annually to have it on my iPad/iPhone? I now have a shelf free for my other clutter.

[@hwood9783]

Sorry, but paper maps/charts are still in a league of their own.

[@watchthis7620]

Love your rambles around such beautiful countryside Paul. Especially good use this week of really beautiful piano music in the background too. Can you tell us what it is?

[@paulketchupwitheverything767]

I can't tell you what music was used in this video, but it did remind me of Poppy Ackroyd's wonderful work: pieces such as 'Suspended', 'Murmurations' and 'Stillness'. There is a KZbin library of licence free music that content creators typically use, which is why the same songs sometimes appear on different channels.

[@graemer3657]

Your videos are much better than the rubbish I pay to watch on tv. Thanks for all your hard work.

[@RichardFelstead1949]

Paul roman around the countryside. Great video. Greetings from Australia.

[@briancjohnson]

Well, it wasn't a Nandos. :D Lovely detective work here Paul, some of your best so far!

[@andypage9132]

Imagine the conversation! 'I'm just going for a bath love.' 'OK, I'll see you in 2 hours'. Great video!

[@TheCelts01]

What for a Research to the local area. Wow I am impressed . Great Video thanks mate and all our love to Rebecca from your Nr1 Fans from Hamburg Germany .

[@tobyrosoman7438]

A fantastic video in my opinion, I'd like to think you're actually doing your bit for the future history of our country. Weren't all the great historians amateurs? Work on a theory for a map of Roman 'B' roads?? Maybe even discover new Roman villas/settlements? Please keep yp your video's

[@sausagefingers2885]

Thanks for sharing this with us. Such ancient things in your own backyard! Greetings from Virginia USA

[@paulinehedges5088]

Fascinating. Really Enjoy your videos . They are always full.of interest and facts. Happy Sunday evening

[@rickkearn7100]

Fascinating content! I've just discovered this channel and liked it very much, enough to subscribe with notifications. Cheers.

[@LLACEM]

WELL DONE THAT WAS A GREAT VIDEO 5 STARS I COULD WATCH YOUR CONTENT ALL DAY

[@dilwyn1]

Great vid Paul ... I'ts so interesting the way you analyse so much of our Roman past. Back in the day , school said regarding Roman history,,, "A" "B" "C" !! You come along and say.. Hang on a min, maybe it is "X" "Y" "Z". Now the enquiringly mind is stimulated, and of I go via Google and reference books to see it I can find out more. 🤔🤔

[@ThatCoalSoul]

Have as good a weekend as can be had. Long live The King.

[@jaycrandell147]

Another great edition. Thank you. And feel free to keep waffling, it works for me.

[@GazzaJAnimal]

Thank you both for going on walks that I'm not able to do anymore. I'll make do by looking at maps to follow where you have been!

[@THINKincessantly]

Howdy from Texas! Enjoyed that peaceful adventure through the countryside! Well presented and narrated ! Good luck!

[@davie941]

hello again Paul and Rebecca , another cool video , don't worry Paul i love your waffle lol , really well done and thank you for all the hard work you put into these videos 😊

[@aengusmacnaughton1375]

Condolences on the loss of the Queen -- someone who weathered so many changes in her lifetime, and reign, and was a symbol of the strength and history of your country -- and will be sorely missed not only in the UK, but around the world. Long Live The King.

[@williamwoods8022]

Oh Dear! The Queen/Royal Family are the MAFIA along with these other MAFIAS being exposed in this video here who are carrying out this agenda being exposed in this video and everything that is going on in this world including the DELIBERATE destroying of our countries and worlds economy is being done by these MAFIAS as part of this agenda kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2nUp2ywqdCKlbc

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

Something that really intrigued me on seeing a few pics of Charlie in the local rags lately. When did they start Supa Gluing his ears back?! Doesn't look at all like the old description of him. "Reminds me of a Volkswagon with the doors open!" 🤔😉🙃😁

[@williamlloyd3769]

Corn aka maize originated in the New World (Central America). When Europeans say “corn”, it’s a general term for any grain or cereal crop, including wheat, barley, millet, sorghum, oats and rye. These are native to the Old World, and the Romans would have cultivated or at least known about them.

[@markiangooley]

Yeah. Here in the USA “corn” almost invariably means maize. A very few brewing enthusiasts might think barley too, nobody will think wheat or another grain or seed used as grain.

[@raytheron]

For most of us outside the USA "corn" invariably means "wheat". The word comes from the Old English "corn" "single seed of a cereal plant; seeds of cereal plants generally; plants which produce corn when growing in the field," from Proto-Germanic *kurnam "small seed" (source also of Old Frisian and Old Saxon 'korn' (grain), Middle Dutch 'coren', German 'Korn', Afrikaans 'koring', Old Norse 'korn', Gothic 'kaurn'), from PIE root *gre-no- "grain." The American 'corn' for maize comes from the early settlers calling maize 'Indian corn' and the adjective was later dropped.

[@lulabellegnostic8402]

No. We don’t use corn as a ‘generic’ term. People in the UK are more likely to refer to a field of standing cereal as a WHEAT field.

[@therighthonsirdoug]

The "corn" you are referring to is known as sweetcorn (or maze if its not the type thats boiled up and covered in butter) in the UK.

[@Mark_Harwood]

@@lulabellegnostic8402 No, most people in the UK are hard pressed to tell the difference between wheat, barley and oats or even name them. It's always a "cornfield". You must live in the countryside.

[@WC21UKProductionsLtd]

Good work. You can't beat the feeling of identifying a likely Roman road. Looks like that track wanders off the Roman line after a while: that's what fascinates me - why did some bits remain in use and others not? The ultimate sign of how far this nation fell after the Romans left, is how many of their fantastically well-built roads just disappeared into the landscape over the following centuries.

[@markhayman9189]

Been watching your channel for a while now and really appreciate the time and effort you put into your video's. The channel is informative and fun. Love the way you interact with each other. Keep doing this and by the way keep doing it the way you are its so enjoyable to watch and listen too.

[@buckieloon]

Another great 12 minutes spent with you Paul, thank you. The Romans spent some time in my old stamping ground, the Moray Firth coast, establishing marching camps at the likes of Fochabers (the home of Baxters Soup). As for old maps, I recently spent a fascinating day at the National Library of Scotland Map Library looking at maps of Scotland from the early 17th century - you could easily lose yourself in those for hours ! All the best P&R 😎

[@pwhitewick]

Now thats a place I really must go one day!

[@buckieloon]

@@pwhitewick will drop you a note Paul.

[@garybrindle6715]

and I live near Aviemore and can confirm there is a lot more to be rediscovered regards Romans in Moray and Nairn, I have a site to investigate. My nearest roman site to Fochabers is on the edge of the old Spey Bay airfield at Dallachy.

[@alexandergreen9453]

Happened to come across this video, and was amazed to see the circle of villas surround the house I'm moving into next week! Looking forward to some walks!

[@geoffpursey1483]

Tiptop content . Your journeys of exploration are superbly presented. I look forward to the next. Railways and Canals are my favourites.

[@johnmurray8428]

Simple thank you! Well put together and interesting.

[@robertdonaldson6584]

Salut from one hatched in Fort Gary, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in 1952

[@chrisg1234fly]

I always find your 'waffle' educating and entertaining and appreciate the effort you put in to your videos. 100k is getting closer!!!

[@hwood9783]

Waffle? Conjecture at the very least?

[@shaunlaverick5793]

Fabulous video..thank you for sharing.😀👍

[@greentie792]

Fascinating! Now all we need is that time machine......

[@robinwatling6538]

excellent thank you

[@69waveydavey]

If you ever have a bit of time on your hands like me (LOL). There's an alleged Roman road that goes to a lost port at Fleetwood. There's Roman occupation at Kirkham and Poulton and various pieces of evidence around Thornton but the trail runs dry after that, there have been a few local historians look for it but nobody official.

[@garybrindle6715]

On some maps you will see a trackway named Kates Pad heading North East from Preston and seems to vanish after Poulton, I wonder if the alleged port used Skippol Creek ?

[@69waveydavey]

@@garybrindle6715 I read a small pamphlet in Bispham library a few years back done by a local historical society called "The Dane's pad, a Roman road to..." or something like that, made interesting reading. They reckoned the trail goes cold after Poulton golf course into what what was new housing in Thornton at the time. Wish I had time on my hands to do a bit myself.

[@pt9101]

What an excellent and informative video.

[@BrianJ001]

Always interesting stuff from Paul and Rebecca! Thanks🙂

[@stephaniefarwell3210]

Lovley presented ..thank you ..x

[@joshweinstein5345]

Fascinating to see the puzzle pieces come together in this one! 👍

[@SuperTonywilliams]

Fascinating stuff mate...lost on us all till the likes of yourself dig up the story...thanks.

[@lindamccaughey6669]

Oh Paul I love to see how excited you get when you find something. Love this history. Thanks so much I so enjoyed this. Please stay safe and take care

[@retsubanires]

I freakin' love this channel! If only time travel was possible, eh?

[@simonbradshaw3708]

Another interesting video looking at Roman roads. Look forward to your next video.

[@jonjodan8933]

I very much liked this video, as I've always been interested in England. The history, the landscape, the language, and I also love maps. The pacing, editing and writing for this video is also very good, it's relaxing but not boring. It really feels like I'm on the walk and listening to a tour guide who isn't just reciting a script but actively looking around trying to figure lost history in the landscape. Very cool, liked and subscribed ~ I'll check out more of this channel for sure

[@stevemarshall3481]

I loved this episode, found it extremely interesting 👍

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Steve. Likewise on the research.

[@dianespears6057]

Love the Roman road exploring. Thank you.

[@williamk9490]

Interesting film, reminded me of when I went looking for a Roman road near a R villa shown on an OS map between Farnham and Alton, near Bentley, looks similar scenery

[@miketherefurbisher8000]

Always a pleasure watching your videos!!. Thanks 👍

[@tomlee812]

Another great video. I think they get better each time. Thank you.

[@garymason8540]

Absolutely fascinating videos to watch. Being a Moonraker by birth i find any history ive never come across mesmerising to see. It makes me to dig out my map collection and go.find these places.

[@tinkertime7165]

Really enjoyed this one Paul. Amazing to think we have so many examples of ancient history right on our doorstep.

[@jonescrusher1]

Superb work.

[@robindeer-park5755]

Brilliant Entertanment Paul and Karen

[@StormwatchDruid]

Very interesting, Thanks Paul and Rebecca.

[@Lichfeldian--Suttonian]

Fascinating, Paul. Many thanks again.

[@dhughes6710]

Another great video. Really informative..

[@YannaTarassi]

Lovely detective work!

[@bobbinational]

Thanks for this, I grew up near Salisbury and my surname is Hall,

[@bobsrailrelics]

Fascinating to see so many Roman remains which can be identified. Interesting deductions. Thanks

[@PhilipInCoventry]

Brilliant as always.

[@grahamcarter5363]

I think I have a few roman roads near to me. I live in the middle of France. They radiate out from a medieval village. Although farm tracks they are built very well with elongated pebbles set on edge across the width of the road. Very interesting ..

[@JohnSmall314]

We have an old Roman B road, just off Watling Street in between Faversham and Goodnestone. Up until recently it marked an administrative boundary from Anglo-Saxon times. Old aerial photos show it was used until the mid 1990's by a farmer as a farm track leading to what appears to be a very old wharf. It crossed a railway, and had gates and breaks in the power rails for the farmer to drive tractors across. Then a new farmer took over part of the land and erased the track, but you can still see evidence of it in aerial photos when it's dry. The other indicator of the road remains as a break in the power rails at the point where the crossing used to be.

[@TheWizardOfTheFens]

A really well put together and interesting vid. Instant subscriber.

[@daveglover6115]

Another great and informative video timely guys! I would be interested out of interest to know how far you walk on an average each week via your GPS obviously! Thanks again!

[@pauldickinson1434]

Very interesting and fabulous detective work Paul....!!!!

[@PracticalJohn]

As always, loving the historical blend of fact / hypothesis and general feel good aspect of your channel.

[@antonyetherington7358]

I stumbled across this channel. Impressive well done I’ve subscribed

[@ReubenAshwell]

Brilliant video and interesting learning about these lost roman roads. :)

[@ghegun]

Hi, love the channel. Your content always gives such a great insight into what has shaped our landscape. This video is no exception. Thanks !!!

[@peetsnort]

I walked on the remnants of a roman road just above the village of Bibury in the cotswold. The sense of history was awesome

[@mgutkowski]

Lovely video Paul. Beautifully shot, and and interesting story elegantly told. Really enjoyed the music too, great choice. Very zen. Put me in mind of the end scene of Shawshank.

[@annenewton5403]

So good , great information, very well explained and exciting to watch , very gripping.

[@andyrichardsvideovlogs8835]

Absolutely fascinating. It's a question I had never thought of but now you have raised the question it will add something else to be aware of and look for on exploring 👍

[@simonf8370]

Your best investigation yet. Juts had to watch it this morning and be late for work, but well worth it. Your research is amazing as well as your inquisitive mind. Thank you so much for sharing this

[@pwhitewick]

Thank you Simon

[@leelundgren600]

Great video! Thanks

[@midnitemike]

Excellent video- well done

[@cutupaboutit1]

Brilliant, absolutely fascinating stuff.

[@desegershon9631]

Nicely researched.

[@taffythegreat1986]

I love this history of Britain. It’s so fascinating and you both makes it fascinating 👍👍

[@frankparsons1629]

Thats a lot of Villas in a relatively tight area. Makes me think we must be "missing" some 80% of Roman villas, they were after all just farms (unless its Fishbourne of course), and some much grander than the other lesser smaller Villas. I'm in to your video at 6mins 30 sec and I've cracked it, they had bikes! OR maybe the Roman equivalent of bikes, a mule and cart. On with the video! Yes, one bath house served the community, only the larger villas would have their own! Back to the mule and cart - before the Romans arrived the ridgeways and other well worked trackways were trudged by Iron Age folk and their mule and quite possibly in the Bronze Age also, after all not everyone moved by raft or boat using the water courses. As the population increased with farming so more trackways were needed. When the Romans arrived they added to those older trackways by building the equivalent of the motorway. Then new trackways were made, where required to link the villas more conveniently with those new "motorways" - tho remember, soldiers always had priority over mules! Then theres the story where a trudging Roman Legion stopped modern traffic, well back in the 1950's it did, more of that anon. And certainly not forgetting the weary trudging Roman soldiers on the road out of Eboracum - in the cellar of the Treasurers House next to York Minster. "You've seen the Romans" !!! You can find that video and the story on KZbin. Thanks Paul - great video, brings back memories (of Roman days).

[@davidpalin1790]

Well done 👏 Great video

[@ADJ_83]

Fantastic video

[@IanDDalton]

I am in Warminster, this is a lovely area to explore :)

[@pwhitewick]

I can fully appreciate that

[@ColinHarperSummerson]

Brilliant, really interesting 🙏

[@digsdrains]

Nice one Paul 👍