This is a journey from Bosham (Sussex) to Lincoln using Stane Street, Ermine Street, the Fen Causeway and the Peddars Way¹.

The seasoned traveller would have no trouble following the way because this journey uses several roads that would have had well placed milestones to mark the way. They would have travelled in groups as the road was not entirely safe, travellers had been known to have been captured robbed and sold into slavery, it became so bad that Augustus Caesar passed legislation to attempt to control the problem.

This would have been a very important east coast route and it joined the west coast route. There were four roads used and between them they formed one of the main routes in Roman Britain, linking the ports of the south coast with the east coast.

The journey runs:

• On Stane Street² from Bosham³ and Chichester to London.
• On Ermine Street from London to Water Newton.
• On the Fen Causeway from Water Newton to Longthorp.
• On the Peddars Way from Longthorpe to the ferry at Holme next the Sea.

Travellers on the road were served by a system of way stations or mansios. The privately owned Cauponae were also established along the routes, providing basic hostel-like accommodation. However, the upper classes would use the better tabernae; these began as houses on the roadside offering a service similar to the modern 'bed and breakfast' system. It must be remembered travellers would also need sufficient money to pay the various tolls along the way.

The Start of the Journey

This journey starts at Bosham Harbour a clear starting point on the south coast.

We are going to travel back in time to 100-200 AD, when the journey described in this Entry would have been possible. You will see 15 settlements, from the grand to the rural, some of which existed just to serve the garrison of the fort near where they are built, and to give shelter to the travellers on the roads. The journey on foot will take a minimum of about ten days - that's assuming you walk eight hours a day, travelling an average of 32 to 33 miles per day. It is interesting to note that the longest distance between any two points on this journey is the 27 miles between London and Braughing. This is less than one day's travel for foot soldiers, although wagons and carts could be as slow as eight miles a day.
All distances given are starting from Bosham.

The condition of the towns and sites today. Shown as (Chichester (4) in subheading.

1 = No longer visible. Or built over.

2 = Building platforms, mounds and crop marks.

3 = Some ruins are visible above ground.

4 = Visible site with museum support.

5 = A major site and tourist attraction.

Bosham Harbour

Roman name: Magnus Portus
Translation: 'The Great Harbour'

Condition: 2

Bosham Harbour⁴ a Roman Naval Base and military port established by the Emperor Claudius from 43 AD. The base would have had facilities for the men based there including temples, a basilica and baths, the other buildings were of timber and stone. The Roman engineers created a fresh water supply⁵ and cistern.

Total so far 0 miles.

To continue your journey:

• On local road continue east from Bosham to Chichester - 4 miles
• On local road continue north west from Bosham to The port of Bitterne (Clavsentum) - 24 miles

Chichester

Roman name: Noviomagus Reginorum
Translation: 'The New Port'

Condition: 5

Founded in 44 AD, as the Roman Legionary base of II Legion Augusta⁶. A town developed here to serve the base. Sited in a prosperous farming area⁷, it was a prosperous settlement there were stone and timber framed dwelings and municipal buildings there was a fine forum. The was a sophisticated water supply system , there was a number of wells dug in the town, water taken from the wells and stored in tanks and then distributed by lead pipes to fountains and bath houses. Trade developed with the aid of the port and market. There were several temples in the town and the main gods were:

The Legion's moved out in 47 AD leaving the developing town of 50,000 sq meters enclosed by earth and stone walls and replaced in 91 AD, with stone walls with four fine stone gateways. The town became the governmental base of Tiberius Claudius Cogidubnus the client king, who had a residence at Fishbourne Palace. In 80 AD, there was an amphitheatre constructed outside the towns walls.

The Roman Palace of Fishbourne

Condition: 5

Due to its ability to accommodate larger ships a small supply base developed at Fishbourne one mile east of Chichester. In 75 AD, a sumptuous villa was build for local ruler Cogidubnus. It was replaced by a palatial residence of over 90 rooms, with mosaic floors, gardens and baths in 65 AD.

Total so far 4 miles.

To continue your journey:

• On Stane Street continue north east to Hardham 14 miles
• To the north west to Winchester - (Venta Belgarum) 32 miles
• To the Silchester Road went north west to Brighton - (Novus Portus) 26 miles
• To the Silchester Road went south to the towns seaport near Selsey 8 miles

Bignor Villa Estate

Condition: 5

The Fosse Way passes a land mark on this part of the journey, the villa estate of Bignor. The largest of the many estates in the area. It was the largest of many estates in the area, its wealth evidenced by mosaics and hypocausts. The estate dominated this part of the Sussex downs with the farm centred round the magnificent 65 room courtyard villa.

Hardham

Condition: 3

This settlement was situated on a crossing of the river Arun, east of the point where it joins with the river Rother. It was defended with earth and timber ramparts and faced with a ditch. The residential part of the settlement had a variety of timber-framed homes. There were a few trade buildings and shops, as Hardham was the focal point for trade along the Rother valley as far as Duncton.

Total so far 18 miles.

To continue your journey:

• On Stane Street continue north east to Alfoldean 12 miles
• To the east to Hassocks 17 miles

Alfoldean

Condition: 2

This small walled settlement of 9,000 sq meters was situated on the banks of the River Arun and on Stane Street. It was a settlement of timber-framed houses and some higher status homes with window glass. There were a few trade buildings and shops there was also a mansio and some official buildings. There were iron mines to the east Roman iron was traded as rods or bars and the trade in scrap was a major local source of supply. The iron was not cast it was forged red hot with hammer and anvil. Sheet iron was joined with rivets or welded white hot. There was some local trade in tiles made nearby.⁸

Total so far 30 miles.

To continue your journey:

• On Stane Street continue north east to Ewell 20 miles
• To the north west to the temple at Farley Heath 9 miles

Ewell

Roman name: Fantaburna
Translation: 'The River Spring'

Condition: 3

Originally founded in the Bronze Age Ewell became a prosperous settlement with evidence of stone and timber houseing, and some homes had shops and workshops faceing the street, municipal buildings were built in stone. There were small factories, trade buildings and warehouses there were paved streets. The town was a local center for the pottery industry supplying the whole province. There were many pottery kilns near the town at Epsom and Ashtead, and the area was the home of other trades. There were several villa estates in the area at;

• Walton Heath

The grazing on the downs, show that the villas probable income was sheep.

• Walton on the Hill

As at Walton Heath grazing meant that the villas probable income was sheep.

• Ashtead

The availability of clay in the area, indicates the villas income came from the local potteries.

There was a temple overlooking the town near at Hatch Furlong where the animal sacrifice was dogs, these were sacrificed to an unknown deity, the bones were found in deep shafts cut into the chalk.

Total so far 50 miles.

To continue your journey:

• On Stane Street continue north east to London (Londinium) 15 miles

Stane Street

Another course of Stane Street is from St. Albans to Colchester 56 miles, via Welwyn, Braughing, Bishop's Stortford, Great Dunmow, Braintree and Colchester. However the route between the two parts of Stane Street is unknown. If it existed it would make the course of this road viewed on a map an inverted 'L'. This resembles the course of Watling Street, so it is not impossible.

Erimie Street

Follow the next part of the journey an Ermine Street this will take you through the following towns, and after 80 miles you join with The Fen Causeway.

London⁹

Total so far 65 miles.

To continue your journey:

• On Ermine Street continue north to Braughing 27 miles

Braughing

Total so far 92 miles.

To continue your journey:

• On Ermine Street continue north to Wimpole Lodge 16 miles

Wimpole Lodge

To continue your journey:

• On Ermine Street continue north west to Godmanchester - Durovigvtum 15 miles

Godmanchester

Total so far 123 miles.

To continue your journey:

• On Ermine Street continue north east to Water Newton (Durobrivae) 19 miles

Water Newton

Total so far 142 miles.

To continue your journey:

The Fen Causeway

• On The Fen Causeway continue east to Longthorpe 3 miles
• To the south west to Ashton 8 miles
• To the north west to Great Casterton 12 miles

Longthorpe - Roman Legionary Camp

A camp of the IX Hispania with attached auxiliary cavalry forces, later a Claudian Vexillation fortress that was built in 48 AD during the troubles with the Iceni.

Total so far 145 miles.

To continue your journey:

• On the Fen Causeway continue east to Downham West (Denver) 26 miles

Downham West Near Denver

Roman name: Durovigora
Translation: 'Winding River'

Condition: 1

This settlement was situated on the Fen Causeway. Little is known about the site, but it is likely that it was a settlement of a mixture of quality stone buildings and timber-framed houses and a few trade buildings and shops.

Total so far 171 miles.

To continue your journey:

• On the Fen Causeway continue north east to Kempstone 20 miles
• To the south west to Cambridge (Duroliponte) 28 miles

Kempstone

Condition: 1

The settlement was on the southern shores of the Wash, good connections with a network of prehistoric trackways had already been established before the Roman invasion. It was a small settlement of timber-framed houses and a few trade buildings and warehouses, The main trade in the area was iron smarting. The raw material was smelted and traded as rods or bars.

To continue your journey:

• On the Peddars Way continue north east to Holme next the Sea 20 miles.
• To the north to Brancaster 20 miles

Total so far 191 miles.

Holme next the Sea

Condition: 2

The settlement was a ferry point on the northern shores of the Wash (Metaris Aestuarium) with piers and docking facilities. There were good connections with Kempstone and the surrounding settlements, the trackways been established since the Neolithic period, many years before the arrival of the Roman's. There is also evidence for a small trade port. It was a settlement mainly of timber dwelings and a few basic trade buildings, there were some warehouses serving the small port.

Total so far 211 miles.

To continue your journey:

• On the ferry crossing north west to Skegness

The ferry across the Wash from Kempstone to Holme next the Sea

Skegness

Condition: 2

The town was founded as a port good connections to the sea were important for trade. There is evidence for a port. A ferry point connecting (south by ferry) to Holme next the Sea and a road connection south to London. It was a settlement of timber-framed houses and a few trade buildings and a range of warehouses and shops.

Total so far: 211 miles.

To continue your journey:

• To the west to Horncastle (Bannovalum) 20 miles

Horncastle

Roman name: Bannovalum
Translation: 'Unknown'

Condition: 1

The town was founded as a defended settlement. Substantial defensive works, similar to those at Portchester were built, together with the good trade connections that were important for the small town. There is no evidence for a port, but there could have been landing areas present. The settlement was founded on a road connecting to Lincoln and the Fosse Way, and it was built as a defended settlement with earth and timber ramparts and faced with a ditch. The settlement consisted of substantial timber houses and a few trade buildings and shops. There is a possibility that the fort at the core of the settlements is one of the coastal defensive forts known as the Saxon shore forts¹⁰ .

Total so far: 231 miles.

To continue your journey:

• To the west to Lincoln (Lindum) 22 miles

Lincoln

Roman name: Lindum
Translation: 'A Pool Of Dark Water'

Condition: 4

The settlement of Lincoln was first founded as a legionary fort of the IX legion in 46 - 47 AD.

The town trade flourished thanks to good connections to London via Ermine Street. A basilica, forum, temple and baths were built; these were followed by a temple complex. The water supply system was similar to that at Chichester with well water put into tanks and piped to fountains and baths.

The home's were built of timber and stone and mosaic floors were not uncommon. There was a wide variety of shops. bronze making, brick, tile and pottery production were all established in the town which had grown to a settlement of 40,000 sq metres, by this time. Lincoln was the terminus of the Fosse Way. Travellers could continue north or south on Ermine Street.

To continue your journey:

The total journey was 253 miles.

To continue your journey:

• On the Fosse Way continue south west to Brough (Crococalana) 10 miles
• On Ermine Street north to Owmby 10 miles
• On Ermine Street south to Ancaster - (Causennae) 17 miles

Notes on Roman Roads

Initially, the cost of the road was borne by the state; after that it was the responsibility of the local government to raise the money to keep the road in good repair. An official called the Curatores Viarum was appointed who had to raise the money to maintain the roads in his care.
Roman roads were not free. There were tolls collected at the towns along the course of the road. As a point of interest, the bridges were a particular source of revenue. This explains the survival and continuous use of fords along the routes.