Icknield Street

Icknield Street is an ancient Roman road running roughly south-west to north-east across England. It begins at the Fosse Way near Bourton-on-the-Water in Gloucestershire and ends at Templeborough in South Yorkshire. The road passes through towns such as Alcester, Studley, Redditch, Birmingham, Lichfield and Derby. A preserved section of the road can still be seen in Sutton Park, now within Birmingham. The route was later called Ryknild Street during the 14th century by the monk Ranulf Higden. The road is historically significant as one of four major Roman routes named in the Laws of Edward the Confessor. It was also mentioned in medieval texts such as Ranulf Higden’s *Polychronicon* and John Trevisa’s English translation. Antiquarians like Harverfield debated whether the road should be called Icknield or Ryknild Street to avoid confusion with the older Icknield Way. In the 19th century, antiquarian literature sometimes used the spelling "Rykneld Street." The road’s route has been traced through multiple counties, linking important Roman and medieval settlements. Today, much of the original route is followed by modern roads, including sections of the A38 between Lichfield and Derby. Some parts retain the name Icknield Street, though not always accurately, as seen in Birmingham and Redditch. In Lichfield, the name Ryknild Street is still used, while in Derby, Ryknild Road marks part of the ancient path. The road’s traces can be found in parish boundaries, lane alignments and even railway crossings, showing how its route shaped the landscape over centuries.