A hidden piece of history was recently discovered beneath London’s Old Kent Road — a 2,000-year-old Roman road. This incredible discovery, part of the old Watling Street, was made during construction work to extend Southwark’s low-carbon heating network.
The team, led by archaeologists from the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA), uncovered a well-preserved section of the street. Watling Street was built shortly after the Roman invasion of Britain in 43 AD and once connected Dover to London and onwards to the West Midlands, linking Britain to the vast Roman Empire.
“This is a great find,” said Dave Taylor, the MOLA project manager. “The road has survived for nearly 2,000 years despite modern overbuilding. To find such an important piece of Roman history still here is remarkable.” The uncovered section of the road is about 19 feet wide and 5 feet high, with layers of gravel, chalk and sand showing the skilful construction techniques of Roman engineers.
The discovery also caused excitement among local archaeologists. Southwark Council’s Archaeology Officer, Dr Chris Constable, said: “This find answers some big questions we had about the exact course of Watling Street under the modern roads. It’s a rare glimpse into the past right under our feet.”
This historic find came about thanks to a collaboration between Southwark Council and Veolia, who are extending a low carbon heating network to thousands of homes in the area. John Abraham from Veolia explained: “While the Romans built aqueducts to bring water to cities, today we use modern technology to bring clean, low carbon heat to homes. It’s amazing how much the past and present are linked here.”
Once construction is complete, this section of the Roman road will be carefully re-excavated and preserved for future generations. Southwark Council also plans to honour the discovery with a sign on the Old Kent Road Bridge to celebrate both the area’s rich history and the transition to a sustainable future.