Iter Boreale (By Way of the North) – A Roman Road?

Small section of the 1695 Map of Warwickshire by Robert Morden. The top is east. See it here.

The old name for Stirchley was Strutley Street. The “ley” part usually refers to a clearing and the “Strut” part usually relates to a street, and a Roman street at that, so Stirchley was a clearing by a road. Why Stirchley was named twice though – clearing-by-the-street street – is unknown. Maybe it was to reinforce that there was a road here, for anyone who hadn’t noticed. And there definitely was, and still is, a very straight road which leads from …

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Maps, Maps, Maps!

Map 1. Section of the Map of Warwickshire, made in about 1646 by Jan Janssen (see original map).

Stirchley is only a relatively recent addition to any map of the area. The earliest known map showing Stirchley as a distinct place is from 1814 (see below), where it’s spelt “Straitland Street”, and there was (and is) an incredibly straight piece of road which leads from the settlement of “Straitland Street” down to Breedon Cross. This road is thought, with some debate, to be a section of the Roman road of Icknield or Ryknield Street.

An early …

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Love your library day!

Save the date! This half term on Thursday 15th February Friends of Stirchley Library will be showing our wonderful Stirchley Library some love with a day of activities, including a storytelling and craft activity from Stirchley Art Room in the afternoon. More details to follow. We’re still building and planning the day, so if you would like to get involved please get in touch!

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