Alleged line of London Road in Hatfield Forest (EHER 80685)

A route through Hatfield Forest is labelled London Road on an Ordnance Survey map of 1923. However, the origins and date of this route are poorly understood. It is not thought to date from the Roman period.

Information from NRHE: London Road, remains of <1> (TL 5341 1928 - TL 5377 2082). A grass covered track which runs through Hatfield Forest. At no point along its length does it resemble a Roman road nor are there any known Roman finds in association with it. I was unable to find any authority, or record, for this track being called 'London Road'. The National Trust, who now control the forest, refer to this track in their pamphlet <2> on the forest as being a "chase stretching from the SW to the NE corner of the forest". The name 'London Road' suggests an old coach road, possibly to London, but it is not shown as such on any of the old maps <3> <4> <5> that have been consulted. "Not thought to be a Roman Road". (2-5) An unmade track, as described. There is no evidence of antiquity on its route through TL 51 NW. <6> (TL 5341 1928 - TL 5377 2082) In April 1993, RCHME's Cambridge Office carried out an analytical earthwork survey of a part of Hatfield Forest in the vicinity of the post-medieval warren (TL 51 NW 47), following a request from the National Trust (7). An area lying to the west and north of the Warren is now a large open clearing through which the course of the 'London Road' is traditionally thought to have passed. No evidence was found to support the former existence of a metalled road, although three tracks do follow this traditional route ranging in width from 4m to 10m. In certain places they have cut through or levelled other earthworks in the clearing, but in general these trackways have had little impact on the adjacent archaeological features which may suggest that they are of relatively recent origin. At the northern end of the survey area, near the Shermore Brook and gravel pits, one of the tracks enters a hollow way. This feature is 10m in width and defined by scarps approximately 0.4m high. The hollow way seems likely to have been created by traffic climbing out of the Shermore valley. Until the Enclosure Acts of the mid-19th century, Hatfield Forest was common land and therefore it is not surprising that the clearing should have been used as a thoroughfare. For further details, see RCHME Level 3 report and plan at 1:1000 scale. <7> The mapping of this feature reflects the route depicted on <1>.