Map showing Roman roads in the area

The Romans built a widespread system of roads, and it was the Roman army that was responsible for laying down the initial network. Main roads, which were usually straight and laid out by surveyors, were constructed on a solid base of clay, chalk, gravel or other local materials. The roads were cambered to let rain run off and had ditches either side for drainage.

Two major routes pass through the south and east of Staffordshire - Watling Street, which ran from the port of Richborough in Kent to Wroxeter; and Ryknild Street, which ran from the Fosse Way in Gloucestershire to Little Chester (Derby).

In the north of Staffordshire a road ran from Little Chester (Derby), through Rocester and Upper Tean to Chesterton. Parts of the route of the road have been traced through excavations in Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme.

The road passes through Longton and Fenton, past Stoke-on-Trent railway station and into Newcastle-under-Lyme, where excavations have located it in Wolstanton and Chesterton.

Part of the road was revealed close to Wolstanton High School in the 1960s. The road surface was made up of thick sandstone blocks, on a foundation of a thick layer of clay on gravel. The road was 20 feet wide between the kerbstones. The surface had been repaired at some time with pebbles in one area.

Excavations in 1995 revealed another part of the road in a back garden close to Wolstanton Golf Course.

The main ways of getting around were on foot, on horseback or with an animal-driven cart. An iron linch-pin from a cart was found at Rocester. The pin was used to secure the wooden cart wheel to the axle.

The army used horses as a means of transport and horse equipment has been excavated at Rocester. These include pendants and strap junctions from harnesses. The drawing below shows how these were worn.

 
Horse with Roman harness (Illustration by Roy Fern)