Roman Road to Old Sarum

Old Roman rd dating 43 AD to 409 AD.
Excavations on the line of the Dorchester road at Crab Farm revealed that it was above and therefore later than the filling of the three fortification ditches dating to the later 2nd century. Finds of coins above the road metalling were 3rd- 4th century in date. The Bath and Hamworthy roads are probably 1st or 2nd century in date. An earlier route to Old Sarum branches from the Bath and Hamworthy roads and is partly followed by the east boundary of the Batts Bed field. This was one of the key route centres of Roman Dorset, even more so if the Shapwick/ Pamphill parish boundary proves to be on the line of a road to Hod Hill and Ilchester. Apart from Dorchester there are no other crossroads like this in Dorset and because it is not occupied by a town it is often used in text books as an example of the Roman communications network.

Lovely ancient ruins at Badbury rings