The early invasion fort at Alchester, near Bicester, was probably the winter base of the legion Legio II Augusta, commanded by the future Emperor Vespasian. The Roman fort at Lake Farm just inland of Poole Harbour, is also early and associated with Legio II. This paper presents a survey using LiDAR and ground visits of a long linear sequence of roads along an alignment from Poole Harbour to Alchester. The sections from the northern edge of Salisbury Plain to Alchester are described in detail. A section identified through Savernake Forest and across Bedwyn Common leads to a complex river crossing of the River Kennet at the Roman site at Littlecote. Fragments can be found until the line becomes clear along the A338 from Wantage to Frilford. The road then crosses the River Thames and the River Cherwell through Oxford from the Hinksey Ferry Causeway to the University Parks. North of Oxford the road follows a complex path around and through an extensive wet area, centred on Otmoor, caused by the meandering River Ray. The possibility that this is a very early military road, constructed within the context of the early years of the conquest, is discussed.
RJ Brewer (Thu,) studied this question.