Blackstone Edge and Roman Road

Roman Road

This paved road (with a puzzling centre channel) is probably not Roman following research by Maxim (1965) who claimed to have found a medieval pack-horse track passing UNDER part of this road and therefore older than it!

A more recent article in the Greater Manchester Archaeological Unit's Journal (Pearson et al., 1984/5) tended to agree with Maxim.

It is now thought more likely the road was an early turnpike of c.1735.

A little late to be Roman!

The central trough is now interpreted as possibly being for cables working vehicles up the incline, evidence for this being a circular foundation block at the top and some documentary evidence in the 1734 Turnpike Act hinting at an "extra-ordinary" solution being adopted.

Contact Information

Blackstone Edge and Roman Road

A58 Halifax Road
Littleborough
OL15 0LG

Where we are

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