People are being invited to join a mission to discover the secrets of England’s highest Roman road.
The 2000-year-old road High Street on Bampton Common in the eastern Lake District fells linked Roman forts at Penrith, to the north, and Ambleside, to the south.
“Roman roads were the arteries of the empire, connecting communities, cities, provinces and forts,” says Eleanor Kingston from the Lake District National Park Authority, who is leading work to find out more about the road.
“More than 3000 kilometres of roads were constructed and today it is still possible to walk some of these roads including High Street.
“Seventeen kilometres of the route in the Lake District National Park is scheduled, designated as a nationally significant site, with five kilometres crossing Bampton Common. Reaching elevations of around 820m – it’s the highest Roman road in England. So it’s very important.
“More information about the route, updating that which was recorded in the scheduling of it in the 1970s, would help with its care, including preventing damage to it.
“We hope volunteers will help with surveys, research, excavation and interpretation, under the direction of professional archaeologists. The work, which will take place between Monday August 8 and Sunday August 21, should answer questions like – where did the road go and how was it built? Plus, did the Romans build a formal route or use an older prehistoric trackway?”
The work is part of Our Upland Commons, a three-year, £3m project which is helping to secure the future of upland commons in England, led by the Foundation for Common Land.
It is being made possible by grants from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Esmée Fairbairn and Garfield Weston Foundations and local funders.
Anyone interested in taking part is invited to an introductory session at Bampton Grange Church Hall on Saturday June 25 between 10am and noon. Those who cannot make the event, but who would like to find out more can email Eleanor at archaeology@lakedistrict.gov.uk
More details about ‘Our Common Cause: Our Upland Commons’ project, can be found here: https://foundationforcommonland.org.uk/our-upland-commons
