Fosse Way

Roman military road in England, from Lincoln in the north to Exeter, Devon, on the south coast. It intersected the Roman Watling Street at a point known as the ‘centre of England’, and effectively divided the ‘barbarian’ north and west from the southeast.

The Fosse Way continued in use until modern times and was one of the four ‘royal roads’ of 11th-century Britain. It was named after the foss, or ditch, constructed on either side to keep the road well drained.