Roman Road, Cambridgeshire Explained

Roman Road
Aos:	Cambridgeshire
Interest:	Biological
Area:	12.4 hectares
Notifydate:	1984
Map:	Magic Map

The Roman Road in Cambridgeshire, also known as Worsted Street Roman Road, is a 12.4hectare linear biological Site of Special Scientific Interest stretching from south-east of Cambridge to north of Linton.^{[1] [2]} It is also a Scheduled Monument,^[3] and is maintained by Cambridgeshire County Council.

This green lane has calcareous grassland, thick hedges and small copses, which provide a valuable habitat for invertebrates. There are grasses such as sheep’s-fescue and quaking-grass, while herbs include wild carrot and purple milk-vetch.^[4]

The date of the road is uncertain, but archaeological excavation has confirmed that it is Roman, and probably constructed later than the first century. It was a local road connecting Cambridge to the Icknield Way.^[5]

The road is a public footpath^[6] and part of the E2 European long distance path.

References

52.145°N 0.229°W

Notes and References

1. Web site: Designated Sites View: Roman Road . Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. 13 December 2016.
2. Web site: Map of Roman Road. Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. 13 December 2016.
3. Web site: Worstead Street (Via Devana) near Cambridge. List entry Number: 1003263 . Historic England. 13 December 2016.
4. Web site: Roman Road citation. Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England. 13 December 2016. 24 October 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121024195337/http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1002220.pdf. dead.
5. Web site: Roman Road. Tim. Malim. 11 April 2012. Friends of the Roman Road and Fleam Dyke. 13 December 2016.
6. Web site: Roman Road. Cambridgeshire County Council. 13 December 2016. 9 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160509040532/https://friendsofromanroadfleamdyke.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/roman-road-leaflet.pdf. dead.