Maiden Way

The Maiden Way or Maidenway (Middle English: Maydengathe; Medieval Latin: Via Puellarum) was a roughly 20-mile (32 km) Roman road in northern Britain connecting Bravoniacum (Kirkby Thore) with Magnae (Carvoran). It was sometimes considered to have run east along Stanegate to Banna, then 7 miles (11 km) north to the Shrine of Cocidius (Bewcastle), and thence to Liddesdale but the identity of this course as a single road is problematic.

Bravoniacum was a waypoint on the northern leg of the Roman-era Watling Street connecting Luguvalium (Carlisle) with Eboracum (York) and points south. Magnae was one of the waypoints on the Stanegate beside Hadrian's Wall. As such, the Maiden Way served as a shortcut for supplying the central and eastern areas of the Wall. It also provided supplies to the lead and silver mines near Epiacum (Whitley Castle).

After the passing of the Romans, it was used as a drover's road. The route was probably named for the "Maiden Castle" guarding the pass at Verterae (Brough).

The Pennine Way footpath follows the line of the Maiden Way for several miles on a roughly north-south line across Lambley Common in Northumberland, above the west bank of the river South Tyne. Immediately north of this stretch, a modern minor road also follows the line of the Maiden Way for several miles to the west of Featherstone Castle. Two properties adjoining this road, with the names Maidenway House and Maidenway Cottage, attest to the antiquity of the route.

See also

• Roman roads in Britain

External links

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