Ackling Dyke

Ackling Dyke on the Hampshire/Wiltshire border

Ackling Dyke is a section of Roman road which runs for 22 miles southwest from Old Sarum (Sorviodunum) in Wiltshire to the hill fort at Badbury Rings (Vindocladia) in Dorset.

Much of the road exists as an exceptionally large embankment (agger), up to 50 feet wide and 6 feet high. This would have been visible from a great distance and may have been intended to impress the native population, as it was unnecessary from an engineering viewpoint. In addition, in places the road cuts straight through prehistoric earthworks and barrows - this may show something of the Roman attitude to the existing British social structure but it has certainly served to prove to early antiquaries that barrows preceded the Roman period.

At Bokerley Junction thr road cuts through both Bokerley Dyke and Grim's Ditch after which its route is used by the A354 trunk road. 3 miles further west at Wyke Down it cuts through the Dorset Cursus.

After leaving the Salisbury suburbs, the route of Ackling Dyke crosses open country throughout, and nowhere comes close to any village. Apart from a one-mile section of the main Salisbury - Blandford road which follows its course, the road can mostly be followed along minor lanes and tracks.

At Old Sarum the road connected with the Portway to Silchester (Calleva Atrebatum) and London (Londinium); and from Badbury Rings roads led to the harbour at Hamworthy (Moriconium) and to Dorchester (Durnovaria).

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Ackling Dyke)