“A thousand roads lead men forever to Rome”; Alain de Lille, 1175
All content © Roman Roads Research Association 2016, all rights reserved; unless otherwise stated.
a charity registered in England & Wales, no 1163854.
JOIN US
JOIN US
CONTACT US
PART A -
Until its closure in 1984, the Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division maintained detailed files on all the known and suspected Roman roads in Britain. The files were then passed on to the respective Royal Commissions on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of England, Wales and Scotland. 35 years after most of the files were last updated, they remain one of the main sources of baseline data for Britain’s Roman roads, and when analysed objectively frequently reveal how thin on firm evidence the claimed routes for many roads actually are. The only way for researchers to access this crucial data was to travel to the respective archives in Swindon, Aberystwyth and Edinburgh, the distances involved making this almost impossible for independent researchers working without the institutional funding.
In order to solve the accessibility issue, in 2017 a decision was made to raise funds to digitise these files, and in 2018 RRRA commissioned a four month project to digitise the Ordnance Survey’s files held in the Historic England Archive in Swindon. Whilst in theory these should be only Roman roads in England, a few Welsh and Scottish roads have crept into the collection, mainly close to the borders. We are now pleased to announce that this first phase of the project is complete, and we can now make those files, in pdf format, available to RRRA members for research purposes. You will need the login details to access each file. The files are in two sets, which we have arranged on separate pages.
OS Roman Road Files A (Margary) include all those roads which were recognised in Ivan Margary’s “Roman Roads in Britain” and given a reference number according to Margary’s own numbering system. The Ordnance Survey used his system, with a prefix RR.
During the course of their work, the Ordnance Survey Archaeological Division identified many roads of a possible Roman origin, which were either not recognised by Margary, or discovered after the final publication of “Roman Roads in Britain” in 1973. These were given the prefix RRX by Ordnance Survey and were numbered sequentially as they were recognised, with no adherence to Margary’s numbering system. These roads are listed in OS Roman Road Files (RRX).
We aim to make this section complete with the addition of all the Scottish and Welsh OS files in due course.
The files have been arranged according to Margary’s logical system, rather than in numerical order. For example RR10 follows RR1 because it branches from it, and similarly RR100 follows next because it branches from RR10. A full description of Margary’s numbering system can be found on our sister site, the Roads of Roman Britain (page opens in new window). Please be aware that some files have been split into more than one PDF because of their size. On some other occasions, the Ordnance Survey combined more than one road in a single file, and we have maintained that format.
You will need login details to access these files, only available to RRRA members, and please be aware that file sizes vary between 10MB and 222MB. IMPORTANT These files and all their content remain copyright. RRRA members (and researchers working on our behalf) may use these files for research purposes only but you may not reproduce, publish or distribute any part of them without prior written consent of Historic England which must be obtained through RRRA.
|
OS File Name |
Road Name |
Route |
|
Roman Road Index Maps and Name files, probably incomplete. Also material which for some reason is not in individual road files. |
||
|
Notes on Roman Roads in Devon by M. Lambert |
||
|
Watling Street |
Dover - |
|
|
Watling Street |
Canterbury - |
|
|
Watling Street |
Rochester - |
|
|
Watling Street |
London (Marble Arch) - |
|
|
Watling Street |
St. Albans - |
|
|
Watling Street |
Towcester - |
|
|
Watling Street |
High Cross - |
|
|
Watling Street |
Wall - |
|
|
|
Canterbury - |
|
|
|
Ash (for Richborough) - |
|
|
|
Woodnesborough - |
|
|
|
Canterbury - |
|
|
|
Sturry - |
|
|
Stone Street |
Canterbury - |
|
|
|
Rochester - |
|
|
|
Benenden - |
|
|
|
Maidstone - |
|
|
|
London - |
|
|
|
London - |
|
|
|
Barcombe Mills - |
|
|
|
Newhaven- |
|
|
|
Pevensey- |
|
|
|
Stone Cross - |
|
|
|
Seaford - |
|
|
|
Heighton Street (Firle Park) - |
|
|
|
The Ripe Land Settlement |
|
|
|
Road at South Malling, Lewes |
|
|
|
Coleman's Hatch - |
|
|
Stane Street |
London - |
|
|
|
London- |
|
|
|
Rowhoak on Stane Street - |
|
|
|
Codmore Hill - |
|
|
|
Chichester - |
|
|
|
Clayton Wickham - |
|
|
|
Chichester - |
|
|
|
Chichester - |
|
|
|
Chichester - |
|
|
Akeman Street |
St. Albans - |
|
|
Akeman Street |
Alchester - |
|
|
|
Towcester - |
|
|
|
Alchester - |
|
|
|
Dorchester- |
|
|
|
Dorchester - |
|
|
Ash Bank (161) and Port Way (161a) |
Kirtlington - |
|
|
|
Fleet Marston - |
|
|
|
Verulamium - |
|
|
|
Oxford (North Hinksey) - |
|
|
|
Verulamium - |
|
|
|
Fenny Stratford (Magovinium) - |
|
|
|
Verulamium - |
|
|
Icknield Way |
Great Chesterford - |
|
|
Lower Icknield Way |
Aston Clinton- |
|
|
|
Eaton Brag - |
|
|
|
Bannaventa - |
|
|
|
Irchester South - |
|
|
|
Alchester - |
|
|
|
Woughton- |
|
|
|
Dorchester- |
|
|
|
Thornborough Bridge - |
|
|
|
Fenny Stratford - |
|
|
|
Little Brickhill - |
|
|
|
Tilsworth - |
|
|
Ryknild Street |
Lower Slaughter (Foss Way) - |
|
|
Ryknild Street |
Alcester - |
|
|
Ryknild Street |
Wall - |
|
|
Ryknild Street |
Derby (Little Chester) - |
|
|
Ryknild Street |
New Whittington - |
|
|
|
Birmingham - |
|
|
|
Derby (Little Chester) - |
|
|
|
Derby (Little Chester) - |
|
|
|
Supposed Roman Road: Bidford on Avon- |
|
|
|
Catcliffe - |
|
|
|
Stretton - |
|
|
|
Pennocrucium (near Stretton) - |
|
|
|
Pennocrucium - |
|
|
|
Greenforge - |
|
|
|
Greenforge - |
|
|
Ermin Street |
London - |
|
|
Ermine Street |
Braughing - |
|
|
Ermine Street |
Chesterton - |
|
|
Ermine Street |
Lincoln - |
|
|
Ermine Street |
Brough on Humber - |
|
|
|
Old Street - |
|
|
|
St Albans (Verulamium) - |
|
|
|
Braughing - |
|
|
|
Verulamium - |
|
|
|
Ayotbury - |
|
|
|
Verulamium - |
|
|
|
Cheshunt - |
|
|
|
Verulamium - |
|
|
|
Braughing - |
|
|
|
London (Cripplegate) - |
|
|
|
Baldock - |
|
|
|
Biggleswade - |
|
|
|
Shefford - |
|
|
|
Bedford - |
|
|
|
Sandy - |
|
|
|
Arrington (Wimpole Lodge)- |
|
|
Akeman Street |
Cambridge - |
|
|
Ashwell Street |
Radwell - |
|
|
|
Cambridge - |
|
|
"Via Devana" |
Godmanchester - |
|
|
|
Cambridge (Red Cross) - |
|
|
|
Cambridge (Red Cross) - |
|
|
The Fen Causeway |
Denver - |
|
|
|
Branch Road at Castor |
|
|
|
Road at Farcet |
|
|
King Street |
Ailsworth - |
|
|
Mareham Lane |
Bourne - |
|
|
Baston Outgang |
Baston to Pepper Hill Farm South and beyond |
|
|
|
Sleaford - |
|
|
|
Stainfield - |
|
|
|
Lincoln - |
|
|
High Street |
Romanised I.A. Trackway Horncastle - |
|
|
|
Caistor- |
|
|
|
Bullington - |
|
|
|
Sixwould, Hemingby, Tathwell, Saltfleetby (poss. Extending S.W. of Stixwould) |
|
|
|
Osgodby - |
|
|
|
Lincoln - |
|
|
Roman Ridge |
Doncaster - |
|
|
|
Tadcaster - |
|
|
Rudgate |
Tadcaster - |
|
|
Cantley Spur Road |
|
|
|
|
South Newbald - |
|
|
|
London - |
|
|
|
Chelmsford - |
|
|
|
Colchester - |
|
|
Pye Road (N part of) |
Baylham - |
|
|
|
London - |
|
|
|
Chelmsford - |
|
|
|
Othona - |
|
|
Stane Street |
Braughing - |
|
|
|
Feering - |
|
|
|
Colchester - |
|
|
|
Colchester - |
|
|
|
Braughing - |
|
|
Peddars Way |
Chelmsford - |
|
|
Peddars Way |
Ixworth - |
|
|
|
Stratford St Mary - |
|
|
|
Coney Weston (near) - |
|
|
|
Roudham Heath (Peddars Way) - |
|
|
Icknield Way |
Babraham (Worsted Lodge) - |
|
|
|
Wixoe - |
|
|
|
Baylham - |
|
|
|
(Near) Baylham - |
|
|
|
Peasenhall - |
|
|
Stone Street |
Halesworth - |
|
|
|
Arminghall - |
|
|
|
Thetford - |
|
|
|
(? Stoke Ash) - |
|
|
|
Denver - |
|
|
|
Toftrees - |
|
|
|
London - |
|
|
|
Old Sarum - |
|
|
|
Old Sarum - |
|
|
|
Badbury Rings- |
|
|
|
Badbury - |
|
|
|
Dorchester - |
|
|
Akeman Street |
Ludgate - |
|
|
Ermin Street |
Silchester - |
|
|
Ermin Street |
Speen - |
|
|
Ermin Street |
Cirencester - |
|
|
|
Silchester - |
|
|
|
Winchester - |
|
|
|
Winchester (Venta Belgarum) - |
|
|
|
Chichester - |
|
|
|
Otterbourne - |
|
|
|
Dibden - |
|
|
|
Stoney Cross - |
|
|
|
Rowland's Castle - |
|
|
|
Winchester - |
|
|
|
Old Sarum - |
|
|
|
Winchester - |
|
|
|
Charterhouse - |
|
|
|
Badbury Rings - |
|
|
|
Dorchester - |
|
|
|
Stinsford - |
|
|
|
Dorchester - |
|
|
|
Charmouth - |
|
|
|
Exeter - |
|
|
|
Exeter - |
|
|
|
Exeter - |
|
|
|
Launceston - |
|
|
|
Crediton - |
|
|
Foss Way |
Axmouth - |
|
|
Foss Way |
Ilchester - |
|
|
Foss Way |
Bath - |
|
|
Foss Way |
Cirencester - |
|
|
Foss Way |
High Cross - |
|
|
Foss Way |
Leicester - |
|
|
|
Ilchester - |
|
|
|
Polden Hills - |
|
|
The Street Causeway |
|
|
|
|
Bath - |
|
|
|
Speen (Wickham) - |
|
|
|
Bath - |
|
|
|
Mendip Hills (Compton Martin) - |
|
|
|
Berkeley Road - |
|
|
|
Gloucester - |
|
|
|
Easton Grey - |
|
|
|
Cirencester - |
|
|
|
Flax Bourton (Gatcombe) - |
|
|
|
Sea Mills - |
|
|
The White Way and The Salt Way |
Cirencester - |
|
|
|
Eatington - |
|
|
|
Eatington (or Ettington) - |
|
|
|
Moreton in Marsh (Dorn) - |
|
|
|
Swalcliffe - |
|
|
|
South Newington - |
|
|
|
Suggested Roman Road: Hanbury - |
|
|
The Gartree Road |
Huntingdon - |
|
|
|
Leicester - |
|
|
|
Irchester - |
|
|
|
Ailsworth - |
|
|
|
Leicester- |
|
|
Salt Way |
Six Hills - |
|
|
Salt Way |
Grantham (Saltersford) - |
|
|
Sewestern Lane |
Greetham - |
|
|
|
SK854603 to SK809612 |
|
|
Watling Street (West) |
Chester - |
|
|
Watling Street (West) |
Wroxeter - |
|
|
|
Newnham - |
|
|
|
Gloucester - |
|
|
|
Gloucester - |
|
|
|
Huntley (Birdwood) - |
|
|
|
Ariconium - |
|
|
|
Ariconium - |
|
|
The Dean Road |
Ariconium - |
|
|
|
Brecon - |
|
|
|
Neath - |
|
|
|
Tillington - |
|
|
|
Kenchester - |
|
|
|
Wroxeter - |
|
|
|
Stretton Grandison - |
|
|
|
From RR 6a - |
|
|
The Wirral Roman Road |
Chester - |
|
|
|
Caernarvon - |
|
|
|
Chester - |
|
|
|
Manchester - |
|
|
|
Ribchester - |
|
|
|
Tebay (Low Borrow Bridge) - |
|
|
|
Penrith (Brougham) - |
|
|
|
Carlisle - |
|
|
|
Crawford - |
|
|
King Street |
Warrington (Wilderspool) - |
|
|
|
Warrington (Wilderspool) - |
|
|
|
Wigan - |
|
|
|
Preston - |
|
|
|
Whitchurch - |
|
|
|
Chester - |
|
|
|
Manchester - |
|
|
|
Ribchester - |
|
|
|
Ribchester - |
|
|
|
Lancaster (Scotforth) - |
|
|
|
Whittington - |
|
|
|
Low Borrow Bridge - |
|
|
|
Derby (Little Chester) - |
|
|
|
Buxton - |
|
|
Batham Gate |
Buxton - |
|
|
Long Causeway |
Brough - |
|
|
|
Templeborough - |
|
|
|
Doctor Gate - |
|
|
|
Manchester - |
|
|
|
Buxton - |
|
|
|
Buxton - |
|
|
|
Ribchester - |
|
|
|
Ilkley - |
|
|
|
Littleborough - |
|
|
|
Ripponden - |
|
|
|
Ilkley - |
|
|
|
Bradford - |
|
|
|
Skipton - |
|
|
Street Lane |
Austhorpe - |
|
|
|
Scarcroft - |
|
|
|
Ingleton - |
|
|
|
Brough by Bainbridge - |
|
|
|
Sedbergh - |
|
|
High Street |
Penrith (Brougham) - |
|
|
|
Ambleside - |
|
|
|
Voreda - |
|
|
|
Egremont - |
|
|
Coastal Route |
Silloth - |
|
|
|
Maryport - |
|
|
|
Papcastle - |
|
|
|
Papcastle - |
|
|
|
Maryport - |
|
|
|
Roberton - |
|
|
|
Carstairs - |
|
|
|
Peebles - |
|
|
|
(Carstairs?) - |
|
|
Dere Street |
York - |
|
|
Dere Street |
Aldborough - |
|
|
Dere Street |
Catterick Bridge - |
|
|
Dere Street |
Binchester - |
|
|
Dere Street |
Newstead - |
|
|
|
Barmby - |
|
|
|
Durham - |
|
|
|
York - |
|
|
|
York - |
|
|
Wrekendike |
Wrekenton - |
|
|
|
York (Grimston) - |
|
|
|
Wade's Causeway |
|
|
|
Stamford Bridge - |
|
|
|
Malton - |
|
|
|
Malton - |
|
|
|
Malton - |
|
|
|
Malton - |
|
|
|
Malton - |
|
|
|
Sherburn - |
|
|
|
Sotch Corner - |
|
|
|
Bowes - |
|
|
|
Stanhope - |
|
|
|
Willington - |
|
|
Maiden Way |
Kirkby Thore - |
|
|
Stanegate (Hadrian's Wall) |
Stanwix - |
|
|
Stanegate (Hadrian's Wall) |
Stanwix - |
|
|
The Military Way (Hadrian's Wall) |
Wallsend - |
|
|
|
Birdoswald - |
|
|
|
Longtown (Westlimton) - |
|
|
|
Drumburgh - |
|
|
Devil's Causeway |
Bewelay - |
|
|
|
High Rochester - |
|
|
|
Lockerbie - |
|
|
Dere Street |
Muthil (Strageath) - |
|
| Lecture & Seminar Series |
| RRRA GEOPHYSICS PROJECT |
| EXCAVATIONS |
| REPORTS |
| Conferences |
| 2022-3 Lectures & Seminars |
| 2022 Lectures & Seminars |
| 2021 Lectures & Seminars |
| Roads of Roman Britain Project |
| Portsmouth Programme, Sat. 3/9/16 |
| Portsmouth Programme, Sun. 4/9/16 |
| York Programme, Sat. 12/11/16 |
| York Programme, Sun. 13/11/16 |
| A Selection of Conference Papers |
| RRRA NEWSLETTERS |
| ITINERA, the Journal of the RRRA |
| JOIN US |
| Forum |
| Roman Roads in Britain PDF |
| Roman Roads in Britain PDF |
| OS Roman Road Files (Margary) |
| OS Roman Road Files (RRX) |
| Forum Terms & Conditions |
| Forum Terms & Conditions |