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 ROMANO-BRITISH DERBYSHIRE 9. THE ROADS Our evidence for determining the Roman roads of Britain is, in general, of two kinds written and archaeological. The written evidence is supplied principally by the road-hook known as the ' Itinerarium Antonini,' which recites the stations and mileages of various routes in the Empire. It is also provided, though in a less degree, by old English place names of significant character, like Stretton, and by chance indica- tions of roads contained in early mediaeval charters and records. Place names, however, must be used with caution. For some are not genuinely old, and others which are frequently cited, like Portway and Cold Harbour, have really no direct connexion with Roman remains. The archaeological evidence, on the other hand, is yielded by actual objects such as Roman milestones or vestiges of ancient road metal, or existing highways or paths, or boundaries which run with persistent straightness towards some important Roman site. In Derbyshire neither of these classes of evidence survives in ade- quate amount. Written evidence is almost wholly lacking. The Itinerary includes no route which traverses any part of the county, and place names and charters lend no more than occasional aid. Archaeological evidence, though less defective, is still unsatisfactory. Some traces of ancient metalling occur at points where we might expect Roman roads. Some modern ways or boundaries run significantly straight. But they are intermittent and fragmentary, and elucidate parts of roads rather than whole lines of communication. Further research and a systematic use of the spade is needed before we can attempt any complete or certain picture of the Roman roads in Derbyshire. But with the aid of con- jecture we may put together a provisional sketch which, so far as it extends, is perhaps correct in its main outlines. The Roman road system of our district is based on three places, two of which lie outside the limits of the county Little Chester, Manchester, and Templeborough near Rotherham. These three places are not merely the meeting-places of roads ; they are also connected together by roads which constitute a rough triangle. The eastern side of this triangle belongs to a route leading north and south, often called Rycknield street. The western and longest side is a more local road from Little Chester to Manchester. The northern side connects Lancashire and Yorkshire, crossing Peak and the Pennine Chain. It will be convenient in our survey to begin with the roads which lead to or from Little Chester, and first with that called Rycknield street. (a) RYCKNIELD STREET Rycknield street is the customary and convenient title of the Roman road or series of roads leading from the Fosse at Bourton in Gloucester- shire through Alcester, Birmingham, Lichfield, and Derby to Yorkshire. It is a long route and its traces are not equally clear throughout all parts of its course. But its most difficult section, and the only section, indeed, 243