Roman Road Through the Area

c. 43-410 AD

A Roman road ran through the area now occupied by Waterlooville, connecting the coastal settlement at Portchester (Portus Adurni) to the inland town of Silchester (Calleva Atrebatum). This road followed a roughly north-south alignment that later influenced the route of London Road. Roman pottery and coins have been found in the surrounding area, indicating activity if not permanent settlement. The road would have been a well-engineered surface of compacted gravel and stone, raised above the surrounding ground on an embankment. When the Romans departed in the early fifth century, the road continued in use as a track and eventually became the basis for the medieval and modern routes through the area.