h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Ermine Street - A Journey through Roman Britain - A25616667
Author: Bob Stafford. ACE Join The h2g2 Book Club @ A20154070 (Keeper of The Treacle Shadow) - U3151547

This has sat in Edited Guide Writing Workshop for a week, no response so I have mover it here hoping for better luck.

Comments please,

Bob...

Can you remove the reference to "the Fosse Way", please.

Good point all done.

The very first sentence could do with a verb somewhere, probably just before the

Hi h5ringer

thank you well spotted all done

Bob...

There's a 'we' in the second section that shouldn't be there.

We I cant find it mate please give me a clue

We are going to travel back in time to 100 - 200 AD, when the journey described in this Entry would have been possible. You will see over 14 settlements, from the grand to the rural, some of which existed just to serve the garrison of the fort near where they we...

maybe that's the first section?

Bob,

This is the first of these Roman Road entries that I've reviewed. They're a bit too much cut-and-paste for my liking. For example, you've cut the description of Lincoln from another entry without changing it. This describes how Lincoln is well-connected to London via Ermine Street. But since the entry is about Ermine Street that doesn't really make much sense as it is repeating what we already know. There are many places like that in these entries. Also, because you use the same words exactly to describe each town, the interest is gradually drained out of the entry until it just becomes a boring list of towns. You should try and vary the words, and tell us interesting things about the sites.

I'll give you an example from the Fosse Way entry. You could have told us that the Roman town of Margidunum was built so close to the Fosse way on either side that it is now completely obscured by the large roundabout built in modern times on the route. I'm sure there are equally interesting things to say about the towns onthe Ermine Street.

You could also tell us something about how the Roman Roads have survived until modern times although in some places they are motorways and in others just a line of trees with not even a path. Parish boundaries and disconnected but perfectly aligned hedges have allowed us to reconstruct the paths of the roads.

I really feel there is a lot more you could do with these entries.

Ok I will have a re work

Hi Have a look at the re work of London is this what you ment please comment

Your description of London is good, although you have two different descriptions of it, in two places. You should get rid of the first one, as it looks as if you cut-and-pasted it from somewhere else, even if you didn't.

Can you say why the road was called "Ermine"? In one book it seems to be called Erming.

Done that the name explaned. What part do you mean the second lndon description

Here's the first description:

London: - A Roman Legionary Fortress, founded by the II Legion in 43 AD in a riverside settlement of the Canti or Catuvellauni. A clearly well-placed settlement, as the town flourished and developed into a prosperous city and port, and became the capital of the Roman province of Britannia.

Here's the second description:

Founded in 43 AD at Southwick, London was originally established as a fort there is evidence of three Legions in the city, the Second (Augusta), the Sixth (Victorious) and the Twentieth. It was constructed at a suitable point on the Thames where a bridge could be built using the islands in the river. Protected by substantial walls enclosing an area of of 145,000sq meters and a legionary fort, Londinium's houses were mostly built from stone. It had many fine stone municipal buildings, including a governor's palace, theatres. The temples were dedicated to a variety of deities Jupiter, Mithras, Mars, the Spirits of the Emperors and Isis.

LONDINI AD FANVM ISIDIS
From London the temple of Isis1

The streets were mainly paved. The town achieved the status of provincial capital in 190 AD and the city walls were started shortly after. At this the time London's five land gates were established and their names and locations still survive. They are LudGate, New Gate, Alders Gate, Cripple Gate (the main gate from the Hadrianic legionary fort), Bishops Gate and AldGate.

You should remove the 1st description, and use that information in the second description.

All done...
Is that better

Bob...

You shouldn't start the entry with "Ermine Street was not its original name". You should start with an explanation of what Ermine Street is. Then talk about where it went, then give the explanation of the name. After this you can describe the journey.

In the description of London, you say there were five gates and then go on to name six gates.

You mention the Icknield Way without explanation. Can you put in a footnote explaining it?

You give Ancaster without a Roman name. But in the Fosse Way entry, you provide a Roman name for this town.

I still think you should change your description of Lincoln, as I outlined earlier.

Put a space between 40,000 and sq meters and change meters to metres.

In the description of York, you should link to the Entry on York.

The York "Total so far" should be moved up one line.

At the high of the expansion --> At the height of the expansion

Leigion --> Legion (a couple of places)

The towns final size --> The town's final size

Hi Bob

<>

It's not called Petvaria now, it's called Brough on Humber so:

to Brough on Humber (Petvaria</I&gt, a seaport on the northern side of the Humber. Then north to York (Eburacum</I&gt,



I am puzzled by the mention of York being a major city with access to the river Humber and the sea - York is 30 miles from the Humber. York has two rivers, the Foss and the Ouse.
Perhaps you should say: York's main river the Ouse empties into the Humber Estuary, providing access to the North Sea.

Hi Galaxy Babe

<>

It's not called Petvaria now, it's called Brough on Humber so:

to Brough on Humber (Petvaria</I&gt, a seaport on the northern side of the Humber. Then north to York (Eburacum</I&gt

All sorted

I am puzzled by the mention of York being a major city with access to the river Humber and the sea - York is 30 miles from the Humber. York has two rivers, the Foss and the Ouse.
Perhaps you should say: York's main river the Ouse empties into the Humber Estuary, providing access to the North Sea.

All moderen rivers have been managed at this time the river was wider (the Thames was huge) and was navigable to the sea/Humber at this time for small boats and barges, goods were trans shipped to sea going vessels on the Humber.

Any help
Bob...

Hi Gnomon

I always like your comments they get me thinking.

>>I'll give you an example from the Fosse Way entry. You could have told us that the Roman town of Margidunum was built so close to the Fosse way on either side that it is now completely obscured by the large roundabout built in modern times on the route. I'm sure there are equally interesting things to say about the towns onthe Ermine Street.

You could also tell us something about how the Roman Roads have survived until modern times although in some places they are motorways and in others just a line of trees with not even a path. Parish boundaries and disconnected but perfectly aligned hedges have allowed us to reconstruct the paths of the roads.<<

I feel that was not within the scope of a journey from the Roman point of view.

However I do agree withyou hence this entry A25783509 was created to deal with this. To acheive the detail you require then I may have to throw this open for contributions from the others.

I will wait for your comments with interest. And those of you that have an opinion on the matter.

The maps will be used only if I can get them to work, prhaps laconian to do an entry page if not.

The page will be used as a link page to the road entries as well as related articles.

Bob...