ROMANO-BRITISH DERBYSHIRE 



9. THE ROADS 



Our evidence for determining the Roman roads of Britain is, in 

 general, of two kinds written and archaeological. The written evidence 

 is supplied principally by the road-hook known as the ' Itinerarium 

 Antonini,' which recites the stations and mileages of various routes in the 

 Empire. It is also provided, though in a less degree, by old English 

 place names of significant character, like Stretton, and by chance indica- 

 tions of roads contained in early mediaeval charters and records. Place 

 names, however, must be used with caution. For some are not genuinely 

 old, and others which are frequently cited, like Portway and Cold 

 Harbour, have really no direct connexion with Roman remains. The 

 archaeological evidence, on the other hand, is yielded by actual objects 

 such as Roman milestones or vestiges of ancient road metal, or existing 

 highways or paths, or boundaries which run with persistent straightness 

 towards some important Roman site. 



In Derbyshire neither of these classes of evidence survives in ade- 

 quate amount. Written evidence is almost wholly lacking. The Itinerary 

 includes no route which traverses any part of the county, and place 

 names and charters lend no more than occasional aid. Archaeological 

 evidence, though less defective, is still unsatisfactory. Some traces of 

 ancient metalling occur at points where we might expect Roman roads. 

 Some modern ways or boundaries run significantly straight. But they 

 are intermittent and fragmentary, and elucidate parts of roads rather than 

 whole lines of communication. Further research and a systematic use of 

 the spade is needed before we can attempt any complete or certain 

 picture of the Roman roads in Derbyshire. But with the aid of con- 

 jecture we may put together a provisional sketch which, so far as it 

 extends, is perhaps correct in its main outlines. 



The Roman road system of our district is based on three places, two 

 of which lie outside the limits of the county Little Chester, Manchester, 

 and Templeborough near Rotherham. These three places are not merely 

 the meeting-places of roads ; they are also connected together by roads 

 which constitute a rough triangle. The eastern side of this triangle 

 belongs to a route leading north and south, often called Rycknield street. 

 The western and longest side is a more local road from Little Chester to 

 Manchester. The northern side connects Lancashire and Yorkshire, 

 crossing Peak and the Pennine Chain. It will be convenient in our survey 

 to begin with the roads which lead to or from Little Chester, and first 

 with that called Rycknield street. 



(a) RYCKNIELD STREET 



Rycknield street is the customary and convenient title of the Roman 

 road or series of roads leading from the Fosse at Bourton in Gloucester- 

 shire through Alcester, Birmingham, Lichfield, and Derby to Yorkshire. 

 It is a long route and its traces are not equally clear throughout all parts 

 of its course. But its most difficult section, and the only section, indeed, 



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