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Walking Britain's Roman Roads Season 1 Episodes
Season 1 Episode Guide
6 Episodes 2020 - 2020
Episode 1
Watling Street
When the Romans invaded Britain nearly 2000 years ago they needed to march armies long distances to keep order and to do so they needed a road network fit for purpose. Dan Jones travels the length of their first project, the 240 mile long Watling Street, which ran from the Kent coast to Wroxeter in Shropshire. Building started at Richborough in Kent where the Romans landed in AD43.
Episode 2
Ermine Street
Dan Jones follows the route of Ermine Street which ran from London to York, through Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire and subsequently linked Castleford with Doncaster, Littleborough and Lincoln. Along the way he discovers some interesting original indigenous and Roman burial sites, a partially recovered section of the road and some Christian and Pagan artifacts. Christianity was also beginning to overtake Pagan beliefs. It was during this period that Emperor Constantine, a Christian, converted Britain to Christianity, replacing the indigenous Pagan beliefs. The Romans eventually abandoned York in 410 AD.
Episode 3
Dere Street
Dan Jones explores the northern-most Roman road in Britain, Dere Street, which ran from York into Scotland. The Romans founded the city of York, primarily to house thousands of soldiers but more importantly as a base for invasion into the north. Dan crosses the River Tees to the strategic Roman town of Coria, now Corbridge. Just before the border with Scotland, and unable to conquer these lands, Emperor Hadrian built Hadrian's Wall. The Romans continued to face fierce resistance from the violent Scots (Caledonian) clans. Despite Roman lethal weaponry they never gained the upper hand. After numerous attempts to occupy Scotland, the Romans gave up and retreated back to Hadrian's Wall, never to return.
Episode 4
Fosse Way
Dan Jones travels along Fosse Way, for 230 miles through the heart of England. The Latin word for ditch, "fossa", is likely to have inspired its name.
Episode 5
Ermin Way
Dan Jones travels the historic 75 mile Roman road of Ermin Way, which links the two Roman towns of Calleva Atrebatum and Glevum, now known as Silchester and Gloucester, and discovers how the Romans introduced pottery making to Britain on an industrial scale. In return the rich fertile lands of the area provided the northern part of the Roman Empire with as much wheat and grain as was needed, so much so that it became known as the bread-basket of Europe. Although Ermin Way terminated at Gloucester it gave the Romans access to further resources in Wales such as timber wool and iron ore.
Episode 6
Stane Street
Dan Jones travels down Stane Street, which runs 67 miles from London to the south coast at Chichester and on the way discovering vineyards that were introduced to the country, and visits staging posts on the road used to send messages to Rome. The Romans eventually found themselves under constant attack by the Scots, Picts and Saxons, forcing them to strengthen the walls of their fortress at Londinium which was key to securing their empire in Britain. Further attacks in Europe by the Visigoths and the Vandals together with barbarian invasion into their empire forced the Romans to abandon Britain at the beginning of the 5th century.
