Monument record 4730/1 - Possible Roman road (Magiovinium to Duston RR172 alternative route)

Lidar and cropmark analysis has identified a possible route between Magiovinium (Milton Keynes) and Duston Roman towns. Parts of the route have reasonable surviving evidence, whereas in other places, especially around Northampton, the route is more conjectural.

{1} Romano British road: the name Stoneway Copse in Salcey Forest suggests a road. Also Stoneway Field to the north west.

{2} Roman Road 172 is reported by the Viatores as extending north from Magiovinium and then splitting into two at Hanslope with one arm heading to Piddington Roman Villa and the other to Hartwell and Ashton. There is little evidence on lidar imagery supporting either of these two routes and a new alignment has been suggested, based on evidence from lidar. The road enters the county at the south-east corner of Salcey Forest, where there is a pronounced earthwork. It leaves Salcey Forest at the north-west corner on a slightly different heading. It appears to change direction slightly across Salcey Lawn. There is historic evidence for a possible Roman road across the lawn- Morton records it in his 1712 history, who observed a straight road which 'discontinued' near the Great Lodge (in the centre of the lawn) and then restarted to the north-west. The road heading towards Wootton is visible on lidar imagery as well as cropmarks, but is less distinct than the part to the south-east of the Forest. Afer Wootton, the road presumably heads towards Duston, past the Wootton Fields Roman site, then Hunsbury Roman villa to cross the Nene close to Duston Mill. A link from Piddington to the road is also identified.

{3} 'In Sacy Forest I was shewn an Antient Way, that in the Straitness, Height, and breadth of it, agrees with those that are known to have been Roman Ways; and therefore I look upon this as a Roman Way too. In some places it appears to have been pav'd with pebbles, for the whole breadth of it; a great number of pebbles having been found upon digging there, which were laid in the manner of a causey. By the course of it, which is south-east and north-west, it seems to have led from Bedford, or rather from newport Pagnel, to Northampton, the Eltanori, as is suppos'd, of the Geographer of Ravenna. It is discontinu'd near to the Great Lodge {Garden Cottage] lately belonging to Captain Shaw, the Honest Worthy Gentleman who shew'd me this Way, and who call'd it the Fross-way. Beyond that Lodge, to the north-west, we meet with it again; but in a somewhat narrower bank than it has south-eastward. Without, or beyond this Forest, I could not find any Footsteps of it.'

<1> 1964, The Viatores: Roman Roads in The South East Midlands, p.350 (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN5299.

<2> Kirk, W, 2025, A Lidar based appraisal of the Roman Roads in Northamptonshire (Article). SNN116907.

<3> Morton J., 1712, The Natural History of Northamptonshire, p. 503 (Book). SNN10113.

Record last edited

Sep 14 2026 12:09PM