ABSTRACT
The island became prey to raids of increasing boldness by seafaring bands of Angles, Saxons and Jutes from their homelands across the North Sea. Once the Roman legions had departed, the Roman roads which had been the primary means of holding the province now served as the prime agents of its downfall. The new vogue for building in stone had a disastrous effect on Roman buildings and roads because, in many instances, they became ‘quarries’ for building stone. During the latter part of the Commonwealth period it is not surprising to find that Oliver Cromwell turned his attention to the condition of the roads, because for a centralised, military authority such as his state was, a good road system was imperative to consolidate and safeguard his rule. Accordingly he took two steps: he appointed a Surveyor-General of Highways together with appropriate funding; and he prepared a parliamentary bill for repairing the highways and improving the public roads.
