Review – The Ancient Ways of Wessex: travel and communication in an early medieval landscape

1 min read
Alexander Langland
Windgather Press, £35
ISBN 978-1911188513
Review Amy Brunskill

This book increases understanding of the travel networks of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex. Using a range of sources, it discusses the evidence for early medieval roads and pathways which shaped the movement and communication of people in the area.

It offers a comprehensive overview of the subject, beginning with a literature review of the existing knowledge that can contribute to the study of Anglo-Saxon road networks and travel. The book uses ten case studies from a range of locations with different topographies to demonstrate what can be learned about early medieval boundaries and routeways from the comparison of Anglo-Saxon charters with first-edition Ordnance Survey maps, before expanding the discussion to the wider region.

This work presents an insightful study of Wessex’s Anglo-Saxon roads, drawing on historical and archaeological evidence, including primary sources, as well as topographical and toponymic data, complemented by an excellent selection of illustrative maps and image


This review appeared in CA 357. To find out more about subscribing to the magazine, click here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.