Watling Street - St Albans South

Margary Number: 1c

Distance: 8.5 miles (to county boundary)

Watling Street was one of the Roman's major roads running from Dover to London and on via St Albans to Wroxeter. Margary allocated it as his number 1 indicating how he viewed its importance.

This section was part of Antonine Itinerary II which gives us the name of the intermediate Roman settlement Sulloniacis at (probably) Brockley Hill.

Watling Street is traditionally cited as having been the location of the Romans' defeat of Boudica, though precisely where on the route has never been determined.

Historic Counties: Hertfordshire

Current Counties:Hertfordshire

HER: Hertfordshire

Lidar Image - Full Route from St Albans to Elstree

They did nor worry about going over Elstree Hill and Brockley Hill. They were clearly used as sighting points. Elstree Hill is not visivilbe from Verulamium's London Gate but it is from St Stephens from where the alignment to Elstree was no doubt sighted. Brockley Hill would have been the sighting point fo London.

Is the traditional route ascending up to Elstree correct? See later.

Oblique 3D Lidar Image - Leaving Verulamium

The first alignment from Verulamium was clearly set out on Elstree Hill.

Oblique Lidar Images - Elstree Hill

The accepted line of Roman Watling Street is overlaid by the A5183 modern road. However, approaching Elstree (from the St Albans side) then the modern road swings a little eastwards off a the direct line. On the straight line though is some evidence for an earlier road - presumably the original Roman line.See map 3 below as to how it looks more logical.

Lidar Image and Route Map 1

Lidar Image and Route Map 2

Lidar Image and Route Map 3

I have shown the alternative suggestion at Elstree Hill dashed on the map. It looks more logical as it carries the alignment straight on. Swinging out before a bend is a modern strategy.

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Last update: March 2025

© David Ratledge