Watling Street

Watling Street, Roman road in Britain that ran from Londinium (London) north-west to Viroconium (Wroxeter) in Shropshire, a distance of more than 160 km (100 mi). Much of it was built c. ad 60-70. It crossed another major Roman road, the Fosse Way, about 20 km (13 mi) south-west of Leicester, and passed through the major town of Verulamium (St Albans). Its name derives from the Anglo-Saxon name of Waetlinaceaster for Verulamium and the Anglo-Saxon word “street”, which means paved road. By the 9th century the name was used to refer to the whole of the Roman road. It was one of the great thoroughfares of the Roman and medieval periods and its importance continued into modern times. In places the ancient Roman road is well preserved, and in others it has been used as the base for modern routes. In post-medieval times other Roman roads have also been called Watling Street, most notably Dere Street in Northumberland and Casing Street between London and Dover, Kent.