Watling Street

Coordinates: 52°39′22.5″N 1°55′37.7″W / 52.656250°N 1.927139°W / 52.656250; -1.927139

Watling Street is the name given to an ancient trackway in England and Wales that was first used by the Britons mainly between the areas of modern Canterbury and St Albans using a natural ford near Westminster. The Romans later paved the route, which then connected the Kentish ports of Dubris (Dover), Rutupiae (Richborough), Lemanis (Lympne), and Regulbium (Reculver) to their bridge over the Thames at Londinium (London). The continuation northwest passed Verulamium (St Albans) on its way to Viroconium (Wroxeter). The Romans considered the continuation on to Blatobulgium (Birrens) beyond Hadrian's Wall to be part of the same route, leading some scholars to call this Watling Street as well, although others restrict it to the southern leg. Watling Street was the site of Boudica's defeat by the Romans and the southwestern border of the Danelaw. In the early 19th century, the course between London and the sea was paved and became known as the Great Dover Road. Today, the route from Dover to London forms part of the A2 road and the route from London to Wroxeter forms much of the A5 road.

Watling Street (Dartford)

Watling Street was a football ground in Dartford, England. Located adjacent to Watling Street, it was the home ground of Dartford F.C. from 1921 until 1992, and was also used by Maidstone United during their time in the Football League.

History

Dartford F.C. purchased the five acre site of Watling Street in 1921 for £1,000. A seated stand on the western touchline was built for £3,000, with banking installed around the rest of the pitch. In 1926 the stand burnt down and a 1,000-seat stand was built in its place, with a covered enclosure added on the eastern touchline in 1930. Terracing was installed behind the southern goal in 1947, and later in front of the western stand.

In 1988 Maidstone United moved to Watling Street after selling their Athletic Ground to MFI. They won the Football Conference in 1988–89 and were promoted to the Fourth Division of the Football League. The first Football League match played at Watling Street on 26 August 1989 saw Maidstone beat Scarborough 4–1 in front of 3,372 spectators.

Watling Street (horse)

Watling Street (1939–1953) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career which lasted from spring 1941 to September 1942 he ran nine times and won four races. Having been rated the third best British two-year-old of his generation he went on to greater success as a three-year-old the following year when he won a wartime substitute version of the Epsom Derby and finished second in both the 2000 Guineas and the "New" St Leger. At the end of 1942 he was retired to a stud career of limited importance. He was eventually exported to the United States where he died in 1953.

Background

Watling Street was a tall, leggy bay horse standing 16.1¾ hands high bred by his owner Lord Derby and the colt was named for Watling Street, an ancient trackway in England and Wales. His sire, Fairway, had been a highly successful racehorse for Lord Derby, winning the St Leger and two runnings of the Champion Stakes. Watling's Street's dam, Ranai, won two minor races before producing many good winners including the 2000 Guineas winner Garden Path.