This website requires a browser which supports HTML5.
Some elements of this site will not work correctly until you upgrade your browser.
Pocket
Histories
of
Redditch
-
The
Roman
Road
Designed
and
Produced
by
Anthony
Green
2015
Redditch
Roads
1:
The
Roman
Road
Iknield
Street
a
North/South
Roman
Highway
Pocket
Histories
of
Redditch
-
The
Roman
Road
Designed
and
Produced
by
Anthony
Green
2015
In
Britain
the
Romans
constructed
a
comprehensive
network
of
paved
trunk
roads
during
their
four
centuries
of
occupation
(43
-
410
A.D.).
Pre-Roman
Britons
used
unpaved
tracks
for
their
communications,
including
very
ancient
ones
running
along
elevated
ridges
of
hills.
In
contrast,
the
Roman
roads
were
paved,
to
permit
freight-wagons
to
be
used
in
all
seasons
and
weather
to
allow
the
rapid
movement
of
troops
and
military
supplies.
Roman
roads
remained
in
use
as
core
trunk
roads
for
centuries
after
the
Romans
withdrew
from
Britain
in
410
A.D.
Systematic
construction
of
paved
highways
did
not
resume
in
England
until
the
18th
century.
Roman
Roads
in
Britain
Pocket
Histories
of
Redditch
-
The
Roman
Road
Designed
and
Produced
by
Anthony
Green
2015
The
roads
were
designed
to
follow
a
course
which
was
as
straight
as
possible
as
this
provided
the
quickest
route
for
the
marching
Roman
Legions.
The
road
was
dug
about
one
metre
in
depth
and
about
seven
metres
in
width.
Large
stones
were
then
put
in
the
base
and
used
for
lining
the
sides.
It
was
then
filled
gravel
and
sand.
The
surface
was
created
with
stones
often
pentagonal
in
shape
(five
sided)
and
fitted
together
to
make
the
top
layer
of
the
road.
The
roads
were
sloped
from
the
centre
so
that
rainwater
would
drain
off
into
ditches
at
the
sides
of
the
roads.
Stone
mile
markers
were
often
placed
along
the
roads
to
let
travels
know
how
far
to
the
next
overnight
stop.
Roman
Road
Design
Pocket
Histories
of
Redditch
-
The
Roman
Road
Designed
and
Produced
by
Anthony
Green
2015
Iknield
Street
(sometimes
known
as
Ryknild
Street)
was
a
Roman
Road
which
began
at
the
Fosse
Way
at
Bourton
on
the
Water.
The
route
went
North
crossing
the
River
Avon
at
Bidford
and
eventually
continuing
to
Alcester,
which
was
a
roman
town
and
had
a
roman
fort
overlooking
the
junction
where
the
river
Alne
joins
the
river
Arrow.
Beyond
Alcester
it
continued
North,
passing
through
the
area
which
is
now
Redditch
and
continuing
through
Birmingham
crossing
Watling
Street
(A5)
north
of
Birmingham
at
Wall.
It
then
continued
past
Burton
on
Trent,
Derby
and
finished
at
Rotherham,
which
was
a
major
Roman
Fort.
It
was
an
important
Roman
N-
S
road
and
the
total
length
was
about
80
miles.
Iknield
Street
Pocket
Histories
of
Redditch
-
The
Roman
Road
Designed
and
Produced
by
Anthony
Green
2015
As
with
most
Roman
Roads,
Iknield
Street
was
incorporated
into
the
roads
which
slowly
appeared
over
the
following
centuries.
It
can
be
followed
on
a
modern
atlas
from
it
start
at
Bourton
on
the
Water
through
modern
roads
and
tracks
to
well
beyond
north
of
Birmingham.
Until
the
1960’s
it
passed
by
Redditch
as
a
minor
country
road,
although
a
short
portion
carried
the
B4497
which
joined
the
B4101
route
to
Coventry.
Modern
Route
Pocket
Histories
of
Redditch
-
The
Roman
Road
Designed
and
Produced
by
Anthony
Green
2015
With
the
arrival
of
the
New
Town,
the
area
to
the
east
of
the
River
Arrow
was
covered
with
housing
and
industrial
developments.
However,
the
route
of
Iknield
Street
was
not
lost.
Stretches
of
the
road
were
retained
as
footpaths
as
the
photographs
(right)
show.The
top
photograph
is
the
path
between
Church
Hill
Centre
and
Papermill
Drive
and
the
lower
photograph
is
the
path
parallel
to
Iknield
Street
Drive
in
the
Arrow
valley
Park
South.
So,
walking
along
these
paths
follow
a
route
developed
for
the
Roman
Army
nearly
2,000
years
ago.
Route
through
Redditch
Today
Pocket
Histories
of
Redditch
-
The
Roman
Road
Designed
and
Produced
by
Anthony
Green
2015
End
of
Presentation
Redditch
Roads
1:
The
Roman
Road