NEWS RELEASES
A Famous Roman Road Explored
19th July 2007
One of the great feats of Roman engineering, Stane Street, lies barely five miles from Horsham, a monument so well constructed it altered the landscape for over 2,000 years.
Built by roman engineers, Stane Street connects the two great Roman cities of London (Londinium) and Chichester (Noviomagus). Today the A29 follows it as it runs through the Horsham district between the two staging posts of Alfoldean (near Slinfold) and Hardham (near Pulborough). The road was known to the Saxon’s as Stane or Stone street. Later, in the 20th century, the road would inspire Shipley resident and popular author Hilaire Belloc to write a guide book exploring the half hidden road as it went from Chichester along the Downs, before sweeping through Horsham district’s countryside and on into Surrey ending at London Bridge.
Using objects, drawings and paintings from its collections Horsham Museum has created a small but visually stunning exhibition called 'Along Stane Street' which explores aspects of this 2,000 year old relic of the time Britain was ruled by Rome.
The exhibition includes a remarkable survival: Near the roman posting station of Alfoldean was a roman bridge built on wooden stakes. Two of these stakes will be on display as will finds from other excavations.
Images vary from a 450-year old woodcut of Roman soldiers, to a 200-year old engraving of Stane Street, to watercolours of the Billingshurst area drawn at the beginning of the last centur, all of which make this exhibition a visually stunning experience.
Along Stane Street is an entertaining look at this remarkable relic of the Roman era.
The exhibition opens on Friday 20th July in the Hurst Room.
NB: Please ring before making a special visit as the room might be in use for other activities.
For further information please contact
Jeremy Knight, Curator
Horsham Museum
9 Causeway, Horsham,
West Sussex
RH12 1HE
Tel: (01403) 254959
Fax: (01403) 282594
Email: museum@horsham.gov.uk
Website: http://www.horshammuseum.org/