Stane Street

From a bustling Roman marketplace to a quiet country path, Stane Street has seen it all. This ancient road, also known as Stane Street(Course of), stretches 57 miles, connecting the heart of Londinium to the port of Noviomagus Reginorum, or Chichester as we know it today. Built as early as 45 AD, Stane Street whispers tales of Roman legions, merchants, and everyday life in Britannia. Stane Street wasn’t just a road; it was a lifeline. It facilitated the movement of troops and supplies, vital for maintaining Roman control over the newly conquered territory. But it wasn’t all about military might. Stane Street also played a crucial role in trade, carrying goods like pottery from Farnham, quern-stones from Lodsworth, and iron from the Weald up to Londinium. In return, London sent south luxuries like oil, wine, and fine samian ware, evidence of which has been found along the route. The Romans, renowned for their engineering prowess, didn’t simply carve a straight path. Stane Street demonstrates their understanding of the landscape. To avoid steep climbs over the North and South Downs, they cleverly routed the road through a natural gap created by the River Mole, a testament to their practicality. Look at a map today, and you can still trace the route of Stane Street. Sections of the A3, A24, A29, and A285 follow its path. In some parts of Surrey, however, the road has been abandoned, now merely bridlepaths or even lost altogether, leaving us with intriguing mysteries. For instance, the exact course through Dorking remains unknown, a puzzle that continues to fascinate historians. Despite the passage of time, Stane Street’s legacy continues to resonate. It’s a reminder of the enduring mark left by the Romans on the British landscape, a journey through time etched in the very ground beneath our feet.