Fosse Way

The Fosse Way was a Roman road in England which linked Exeter (Isca Dumnoniorum) in South West England, to Lincoln (Lindum) in the East Midlands, via Bath (Aquae Sulis), Cirencester (Corinium) and Leicester (Ratae Coritanorum).

It formed a junction with a number of other Roman roads. It linked with the Akeman Street and Ermine Way at Cirencester, Watling Street at Veronae (High Cross) south of Leicester, and at Lincoln the Fosse Way joined another Roman road, the Ermine Street.

The road was an important part of the road network the Romans built during their occupation of Britain.

The route today

Many parts of the Fosse Way still exist and form parts of modern roads, although there are many gaps. Between Leicester and Lincoln the A46, follows the route of the Fosse Way.

The line of the road dissapears south of Leicester, but reapears as the B4455 in Warwickshire the B4455 follows the route of the Fosse Way for the entire length of Warwickshire, when it joins to the A429 near the border with Gloucestershire.

The A429 follows the Fosse Way's route until it reaches the town of Cirencester. Between Cirencester and Bath the route of the road dissapears somewhat. Short unconnected sections of a few country lanes follow the Fosse Way's route.

Between Bath and Exeter, the Fosse Way's route is roughly followed by a number of modern roads, including the A367, A37 and A303.

See Also Roman Britain, UK topics.