Akeman Street
|
Roman Britain, with this road's route in red |
Akeman Street was a major
Roman road in
England that linked
London to the
Fosse Way at
Cirencester. Its route passed through various towns and villages including
Hemel Hempstead,
Berkhamsted,
Tring,
Aylesbury and
Bicester before changing direction towards the south-west going past
Woodstock and
Witney to the north before heading into Cirencester.
Part of the road is still in use today, between London and Bicester, as the
A41.
The origins of the road's name are uncertain but certainly date back to the
Early Middle Ages. Some have suggested that "Akeman" derives from the
Anglo-Saxon words for "oak-man". Others have suggested a connection with
Bath, which the Anglo-Saxons called Acemannesceastre (
Acemannes apparently being a corruption of the Roman name
Aquae Sulis). It is unclear how this might have become associated with the road.
*
Roman Britain*
Roman roads in Britain
