THE STANE STREET, SUSSEX. THIS is one of the Roman roads, among many others, not mentioned in the Itinerary of Antonine, although well known the whole way from Chichester (the Regno of the Romans) to London. The military ways of the Romans were constructed with considerable ingenuity and labour, and may be described as a causeway of ten or twelve feet high: they led in a direct line from one town to another, which was seldom a greater distance than fifteen or twenty miles. The materials used in their construction were generally taken from the neighbourhood through which they passed, such as flint in the chalky districts, and stone where it most abounded: in some instances the surface was covered with pebbles or gravel. When we consider the great progress of cultivation, and the continual change in the inhabitants of this country for the last 1800 years, it is hardly fair to expect traces of all the Roman roads, or the most trifling marks even of the military posts that were constructed on them: but in the instance before us we have a fine specimen, called the Stane, or Stone-street. This road came from London, and entered the county of Sussex by Oakwood, THE STANE STREET. and passing by Slinfold and Billinghurst, entered Pulborough; whence it goes towards Hardham, Coldwaltham, and ascending the steep acclivity of Bignor hill, passes over Glating beacon, from which spot our Drawing was made. Here the view opens with amazing grandeur; the road keeping its course over some irregular ground to the North Wood, through which it passes, and is again visible over the corner of Halnaker Down, falling in with the present turnpike at Halnaker, and approaching the Roman station at Chichester. In the extreme distance is the Isle of Wight, with a large portion of the English Channel, and Spithead on the right: perhaps there are few situations in the kingdom that present a view so grand and interesting. |