Roman road that ran from Colchester to Chester, England
Roman Britain, with the Via Devana highlighted in red.
Via Devana is the name given to a Roman Road in England that ran from Colchester in the south-east, through Cambridge in the interior, and on to Chester in the north-west. These were important Roman military centres and it is conjectured that the main reason the road was constructed was military rather than civilian. The Latin name for Chester is Deva and 'Via Devana' is thus 'The Chester Road'. Colchester was Colonia Victricensis, 'the City of Victory', and lays claim to be the oldest Roman city in Britain. The Via Devana had little civilian rationale and the road eventually fell into disuse as it was not possible to maintain extensive public works following withdrawal of the last Roman legion from Britain in 407. As a result, its route is difficult to find today, especially in its more northern reaches. It is omitted from some historians' maps for this reason but most nowadays accept its existence. The undocumented name Via Devana was coined by Charles Mason, D.D., of Trinity College, Cambridge, who was also rector of Orwell, Cambridgeshire, and Woodwardian Professor of Fossils at Cambridge University from 1734. During his life, Mason compiled a complete map of Cambridgeshire which was later published in 1808, long after his death.[1]
^Charles Mason, (died 1770); map published in Daniel Lysons, Magna Britannia, 1808, p.229: Codrington T, Roman Roads in Britain, 1903, p. 137; Willis, Robert, The Architectural History of the University of Cambridge,..., 1886, vol. II Appendix pp675f.
ViaDevana is the name given to a Roman Road in England that ran from Colchester in the south-east, through Cambridge in the interior, and on to Chester...
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The settlement was at a crossroads of Roman roads Ermine Street, the ViaDevana (from Cambridge, between Colchester and Chester) and a military road from...
portal Chester city walls History of Chester Minerva's Shrine, Chester ViaDevana Rankov, Hassall, & Tomlin (1980), p. 352. Mason (2002a), p. 45. Mason...
of Chester List of walls Minerva's Shrine Nine Houses Old Dee Bridge Shropshire Union Canal Siege of Chester Town walls in England and Wales ViaDevana...
make sense given the strategic importance of the Roman Road link via the ViaDevana). Viking raiders from the north were reaching as far south as Bridgnorth...
several major roads, including Stane Street, Camlet Way, Pye Road and the ViaDevana. Within the town walls was located the Temple of Claudius in its large...
of Chester List of walls Minerva's Shrine Nine Houses Old Dee Bridge Shropshire Union Canal Siege of Chester Town walls in England and Wales ViaDevana...
as the A1307. Whilst it generally follows the route of the Roman Road ViaDevana from Alconbury to Haverhill. As it becomes unroutable through Cambridge...
ran from Ermine Street north east through Cambridge to The Fens and the ViaDevana ran northwest through the town on its way to Godmanchester. Esmonde Cleary...
University, near the Gog Magog Hills. It is close to where the ancient Roman ViaDevana crossed the prehistoric Icknield Way. The estate includes Babraham Hall...
September 1645, King Charles I entered the City of Chester with 600 men via the Old Dee Bridge. He stayed the night at Sir Francis Gamull's house on...
make sense given the strategic importance of the Roman Road link via the ViaDevana. RAF Shawbury is located approximately 7 miles (11 km) NE of Shrewsbury...
Parishes Community Forums Heritage and attractions Harborough Museum The ViaDevana or Gartree Road which runs from Leicester to the County border - Grand...
important transport link. The parish's south west border runs along the ViaDevana, the old Roman road, that now forms the A14. Farming is the main industry...
Measures' cottage, Wright's body was found on Gartree Road, part of the ViaDevana Roman road, by a farmer named Joseph Cowell. Her body was discovered alongside...
lying ridge just over a mile to the north east of the former Roman road ViaDevana (now the A14) where it joins the M11 and is five miles (8 km) from Cambridge...
spear), lying north east of Kibworth and south west of Gaulby on the Roman ViaDevana, now known as the Gartree Road. This was the open-air meeting place from...
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