A remarkable piece of Roman history has resurfaced beneath the asphalt of southeast London. Archaeologists recently unearthed a well-preserved section of Watling Street, a 2,000-year-old Roman road, hidden beneath the Old Kent Road. This discovery sheds light on a significant route that once connected the East and West of Roman-era Britain, from the coastal town of Dover (ancient Dubris) to the West Midlands.
Built shortly after the Roman invasion of 43 C.E., Watling Street was a key artery for trade and travel, used by Roman officials and even emperors. Its rediscovery came about as Southwark Council embarked on a project to develop a low-carbon heat network, peeling back the layers of London’s modern landscape to reveal a vital piece of its ancient past.
The recently uncovered stretch of the road, confirmed by the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA), measures nearly 19 feet long and 5 feet wide. It is constructed with a compacted gravel foundation, chalk layers, and remnants of sand and gravel—materials that have endured two millennia of development and urban transformation. The road’s remarkable preservation has amazed experts like Dave Taylor from MOLA, who highlighted the challenges of discovering such a significant archaeological find amidst London’s dense infrastructure.
The excavation has “redrawn the Roman road map for Southwark,” according to Gillian King of RPS, underlining the historical value of this discovery for understanding Roman construction techniques and urban planning. Archaeologists are hopeful that this find will answer lingering questions about Roman London’s layout and trade routes.
As part of the borough’s ongoing development and commitment to a greener future, plans are underway to commemorate this extraordinary discovery with a sign on a local railway bridge, marking the spot where Roman and modern London intersect.
