Walking Britain's Roman Roads
In this six-part series we look at six of the roads that best tell the story of Rome’s merciless charge that shook the British Isles, shaping the land indelibly. We team up with archaeologists using modern technology to uncover the worlds lost to the earth for thousands of years. By walking the same roads as emperors, centurions and slaves we revisit the lives of those forgotten as the empire marched on through Britannia.
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Seasons & Episodes
1. Watling Street
Dan Jones travels the oldest and longest Roman road, Watling Street, built in 43 AD following the Roman invasion and colonisation of Britain. It runs for 240 miles from Kent to Shropshire.
2. Ermine Street
Dan Jones travels the historic Roman road of Ermine street, which connects the two great cities founded by the Romans, London and York. Along the way he explores the story of religion in Roman Britain. While they were importing their own beliefs, they also absorbed native traditions and later endorsed the establishment of Christianity here.
3. Dere Street
This time Dan Jones explores not one but two Roman roads: Dere Street, the northern-most Roman road in Britain, which runs from York to Scotland, and Stanegate, a key East- West route which runs alongside the great defensive barrier of Hadrian's Wall. His journey reveals the story of Roman military and colonial ambitions in Britain.
4. Fosse Way
Dan Jones travels along Fosse Way, arguably Britain's most hedonistic Roman Road. The route stretches for 230 miles through the heart of England, from Exeter to Lincoln. The Latin word for ditch, fossa, is likely to have inspired its name.
5. Ermin Way
Dan Jones travels the historic Roman road of Ermin Way. Not to be confused with Ermine Street which runs north from London to York, Ermin Way is arguably Britain's most industrial Roman road. Dan's journey reveals just how many of Britain's natural resources were exploited by the Romans and exported into their wider empire in Europe.
6. Stane Street
Dan Jones travels the historic Roman road of Stane Street, which runs for around sixty-seven miles from London to Chichester. Along the way he considers how our Roman overlords abandoned Britain in the early fifth century AD, when their empire came under attack from the barbarian tribes of northern Europe. The very roads the Romans built to conquer Britain now became their escape routes.
