Recognising the Routes

A well-used drove road reveals itself to the historian in many ways, the most obvious sometimes being its name: I live near 'Welsh Lane', for instance, and not far from me is 'Bullock Road'.

Less obviously, there might be a rambling farmhouse (ex-inn) at a crossroads, or wide verges with old hedges either side; or perhaps the road seems determined to avoid villages. 

Often there are long, thin fields parallel to the verge with names like 'Oxpen'. There are ridge-roads leading to market towns.  There are holloways worn down over the centuries by countless hooves.

I've listed a few of the more useful drove road indicators at the side of the page.