2,000-year-old Roman road discovered beneath Old Kent Road in London

Construction workers uncovered a well-preserved section of the 2,000-year-old Roman Watling Street beneath Old Kent Road in Southwark, London. The discovery was made during early works by Southwark Council and Veolia to bring low-carbon heating to 3,000 more council homes along Old Kent Road. Excavation work to install a new energy supply for Southwark's low-carbon heat network gave archaeologists a chance to monitor the excavation in case anything was found.

A team from MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology), working on behalf of Veolia and archaeological consultant RPS, with advice and support from Southwark Council's in-house archaeology officer, Dr. Chris Constable, uncovered a section of Roman road where they hoped it might be. The discovery is the first physical proof that sections of the 2,000-year-old Watling Street route survive directly beneath the modern Old Kent Road.

The preserved section of Watling Street measures 5.8 metres wide by 1.4 metres high and is remarkably well preserved. Distinct layers can be seen in the Roman road, which tell the story of the road's construction. The Roman road has a solid foundation of compacted gravel sealed by two layers of chalk, topped with another layer of compacted sand and gravel. The original surface of the Roman road would likely have been made from the same material and sat at a similar level to the modern road; however, this has been lost.

Dave Taylor, MOLA project manager, said: "It's amazing this section of road has survived for almost 2,000 years." He also noted: "There has been so much activity here over the past few hundred years, from sewers to power cables, tramlines and of course the building of the modern road, so we're really excited to find such a substantial chunk of Roman material remaining." Dr. Chris Constable, Southwark Council's in-house archaeology officer, said: "I'm pleased this project has answered our questions over the course of the road south of the Cantium Retail Park where a section was excavated in the early 1990s, south of the line of the modern road."

Until now, evidence had proved very difficult to find in confirming Roman Watling Street's exact route. The discovery of an intact section of Roman Watling Street directly under the current Old Kent Road has redrawn the Roman road map for Southwark. The base of the modern Old Kent Road rests directly on the Roman road's fabric.

Councillor Helen Dennis, cabinet member for new homes and sustainable development, said: "Old Kent Road is one of London’s oldest thoroughfares that embodies much of what makes today’s London special: diversity and community spirit. It’s extraordinary to literally be peeling back the layers of Old Kent Road’s history as we work towards a greener future." She also commented: "I'm excited Southwark is paving the way for future generations by tackling the climate emergency head on. This project to expand the low carbon heat network is absolutely vital to us reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and embracing cleaner, more efficient energy resources. The new insulated pipes also get us closer to ensuring affordable and reliable heating for the 3,000 additional council homes being connected to the network around Old Kent Road."

John Abraham, Chief Operating Officer – Industrial, Water & Energy for UK, Ireland and Nordics at Veolia, added: "This new discovery, unearthed during our infrastructure project, gives us a fascinating insight into Roman construction. Whereas the Romans built aqueducts to transport water to cities, Veolia and Southwark Council are utilising a district heating network to provide low carbon heat to homes in the borough. We are delighted to have played a part in this find which is an incredible example of where old meets modern technology!"

Roman Watling Street, built shortly after the Roman invasion of Britain in AD 43, created a route from the Roman port at Dover through London to the West Midlands. Old Kent Road roughly follows the route laid down by the Romans when they built Watling Street nearly 2,000 years ago. Roman roads are characteristically straight, so archaeologists had a good idea of where Watling Street should be located. However, until now, physical evidence confirming its exact route in this area had been difficult to find.

The discovery informs on Roman construction techniques generally. Images from the site show distinct layers, which tell the story of the Roman road’s construction. Among the most influential literary characters to walk Watling Street were the pilgrims of Geoffrey Chaucer's *Canterbury Tales* in the Middle Ages.

A Southwark Council spokesperson confirmed that once the construction work is completed, the Roman road remains will be preserved in situ and reburied for future generations. The discovery will be marked by a sign that will be added to the nearby Old Kent Road bridge.

The recent discovery ties into Southwark Council's ongoing efforts to bring low-carbon heating to more homes along Old Kent Road, aiming to reduce the borough's carbon footprint by a further 11,100 tonnes of carbon each year. Old Kent Road has a vibrant past dating from prehistory to the modern day. The Old Kent Road bridge has undergone its own transformation from old to new with a colourful makeover celebrating the area's diversity. A bespoke mural titled 'A Home from Home' was made in collaboration with the local community on the Old Kent Road bridge.

Since 2018, Southwark Council has approved 9,500 homes along Old Kent Road, averaging 1,500 approvals per year. Of the approved homes, 708 have been completed and 1,825 are currently under construction. Old Kent Road is the busiest Opportunity Area in London in respect of new housing.

More information about the renewal of Old Kent Road can be found at www.oldkentroad.org.uk.

Sources: ianVisits, London News Online, fmindustry

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq