The Roman Road from Arrington Bridge to Stotfold

Margary Number: 176

Distance: 10 miles

An argument could be made for this road really being a continuation of Margary 23 (Akeman Street) from Cambridge. It certainly continues that road's general alignment.

Evidence is strong for all but the last mile to Stotfold and Ermine Street.

Viatores suggested a similar road RR176 but it wandered all over the place and very little of their route is actually correct. I have however adopted their road number.

Historic Counties: Cambridgeshire & Hertfordshire

Current Counties:Cambridgeshire & Hertfordshire

HER: Cambridgeshire & Hertfordshire

Lidar Image - Full Route

Clearly the road to Stotfold was the earlier and the route to Sandy a later branch off it at the village of Wendy. The last section heading to Margary 22 at Stotford is a bit vague but little doubt that this was the road's destination. Viatores right-angled turn off the alignment was clearly wrong.

Arrington Bridge Roads - Routes

Map equivalent to the above with county boundaries.

Oblique 3D Lidar Image, Arrington Bridge

Just a slight dog-leg from a perfectly straight alignment. Only nearer Stotfold does the evidence become more intermittent.

Flecks Lane

This the first stretch where the modern road actually shares the Roman agger. We are near Flecks Lane Farm here looking towards Great Green. The width over the ditches is huge and gives the game away as to being the Roman road.

Lidar Image and Route Map 1

The Viatores in suggesting a route here following the modern road but in reality the Roman line is in the fields until Flecks Lane Farm (see above).

Silver Street, Guilden Morden

The short Silver Street (heading off left) marks the Roman line in Guilden Morden, by the the Three Tuns Pub. The footpath of Church Lane also follows the Roman course (off picture to the right).

Lidar Image and Route Map 2

Beyond Great Green the road is generally running through the fields apart from Silver Street (above).

The agger can be seen continuing past where Viatores thought it did a right angled turn northwards.

Lidar Image and Route Map 3

Enough clues I think to get the approximate course to Stotfold where it would have formed a junction with RR22.

Oblique 3D Lidar Image - approaching Stotfold

Intermittent clues but little doubt the road would have continued straight on to Stotfold.and Roman road 22 This is felt the more likely but....see below.

Oblique 3D Lidar Image - Stotfold Options

Approaching Stotfold.and Roman road 22.then there are two options. The one I have depicted above is felt the more likely as it maintains the general direction of the road. However, there is another option (left0 which does have some evidence supporting it.

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Last update: Jan 2024

© David Ratledge