Stane Street (Chichester)

The Stane Street south of the Thames was a Roman road, the London to the Roman town of Regnum Association (today's Chichester in West Sussex ). The Stane Street is of particular interest, since it makes clear the principles by which the Romans planned their streets. The name of the road (stone road - Stane is an old spelling for Stone / Stone ) distinguishes the paved road of the Romans from the more hard-packed streets of the locals.

The course of Stane Street correspond to the exact line of sight from London Bridge to Chichester, with some local variations " allowed" were to correspond to geographical conditions. For example, gentle slopes were used to the South Downs climb, but takes account of the geology: limestone soils were compared with loamy soils are preferred.

The road runs from London Bridge to the southwest along the underground Northern Line through Clapham and Tooting according to Colliers Wood and Merton. It crosses the River Wandle at Merton Priory later and then runs parallel to the motorway A 24 from Morden to Ewell. In Ewell, where there was an ancient settlement, it bends slightly to the left, then to cross the North Downs at Dorking Langley Vale. South of Dorking it runs parallel to the A29 through Billingshurst to Pulborough. Here the road turns west off to outclassed directly to Chichester, passing the famous Roman Villa Bignor in, and then the South Downs climb. Here above, then the Stane Street are gone within walking distance and without interference by modern roads.

Swell

• Ivan D. Margary: Roman Roads in Britain. 3rd edition (1973 ), London: John Baker, page 64-67, ISBN 0-212-97001-1
• Hilaire Belloc: The Stane Street: A Monograph. (1913 ), London: Constable ( reissued Kessinger 2005, ISBN 1-4179-5459-0 )