Medieval or earlier Trackway Route; Wallingford, Forest Hill, Islip, Kirtlington, Heyford/Fritwell, Charlton, Farthinghoe, Thorpe Mandeville, Preston Capes, Newnham, Borough Hill, Bannaventa (Whilton). Spanning Oxfordshire from South-to-North, skirting the western Fringe of Northamptonshire & on towards Leicestershire.
The Portway is clearly post-Roman, probably early-Medieval, because of the way it cuts into those earlier Routes. It passes many ancient Manors & Castles that were significant in the Medieval Period, most notably Wallingford, which was a key Site in the History of early-Norman England; but its exact course is complicated because of its later use as a Drove Road, alongside a similar Route which it parallels for much of its length, Oxford Lane. There is some discussion how much of The Portway is Roman: In the South of Oxon its Route tied up with the Icknield Way around Goring & Wallingford; the minor Roman Road that ran from Dorchester across Otmoor to meet Akeman Street at Alchester, near Bicester; and around Banbury, with the Route of Salt Way & the network of minor Roman Roads in the area.
From the Crossing of the Thames near the Roman Town of Dorchester the Route probably skirted Oxford along the Ridgeline – across Garsington Hill to Wheatley & then along what is roughly the B4027 past Forest Hill towards Beckley. Around the Woodeaton area the Route becomes indistinct as there are a number of crossing Points of the Rivers Cherwell & Ray in this area. Apart from the more remote area around the Thames near Dorchester & the Cherwell plain & Otmoor North-east of Oxford, it’s also one of the more difficult sections to follow as it picks through the Sprawl, Road Corridors & Traffic of Oxford.
The Footpath across the Hilltop from Forest Hill, past Stanton, to Beckley, Woodeaton & Water Eaton, is a far more safe option. Most likely The Portway crossed the River Ray near Islip & continued along the East side of the Cherwell Valley. Today, the imposing A34 Road corridor makes it easier to walk via Water Eaton & Kidlington to Hampton Poyle. The Panorama below shows the Route of The Portway running North-North-West, viewed from near the Top of Beckley Hill (notable across Oxfordshire due to the prominent Transmitter Mast on top). From Water Eaton & Kidlington, where the Old Route from Oxford crosses the Cherwell over the broad Water Meadows, the Route literally ‘quietens down’ as it heads into the rolling fields beyond the Hamlet of Hampton Poyle. At this point, or a little to the south-east of here, Oxford Lane diverges to the north-east, towards Brackley & Buckingham. The Route of The Portway becomes clearer once again after Hampton Poyle. The Road through Bletchingdon to Kirtlington is walkable with care. Beyond busy Kirtlington, the Route meets Akeman Street.
From Kirtlington the Route is a Minor Road that is usually not too busy. Approaching the former Base, at the Junction with Camp Lane, the Route straight ahead is Overgrown. Turn left down the Road towards the Village, then right following the Road North out of the Village, where the Path leaves the Road to the right, climbing the Field towards the Fence of the Site. From here-on the Route follows the Security Fence, and then continues North-North-West along Farm Tracks. The broad grassy Track ends on the edge of an Escarpment, overlooking the Cherwell Valley, where the M40 cuts through the Limestone Slab & descends into the Valley below. At this point the Route becomes indistinct. Keep going towards Souldern along the Road, then take the left along Foxhill Lane into the Village to avoid the busier Road section. Beyond Souldern the Route is lost once more. The modern-day Main Road is a Georgian Turnpike, made at the end of the 18thC, over-riding the Historic rights-of-way as it runs between the 2-Historic Estates of Aynhoe and Tusmore. The straight line path towards Aynhoe and Kings Sutton is likely a Roman Route. Around Aynhoe the Route is made more complicated by Ogilby’s Buckingham–Bridgenorth Road – which may have split here depending upon the Seasonal condition of the Route crossing the Cherwell Valley. John Ogilby (November 1600–4th September 1676) was a Scottish Translator, Impresario & Cartographer. Best known for Publishing the 1st British Road Atlas.
From Souldern, The Portway goes roughly North-east towards Rainsborough Camp – where it joins the Route that earlier diverged along Aves Ditch. It may be that Aves Ditch was the later Medieval Route (& is certainly easier to walk), while the Route along the Cherwell Valley represented an earlier pre-Medieval, possibly Roman Route
Beyond Rainsborough Camp the Route is mostly surfaced Minor Roads; following the Ridge-line between the Catchments of the River Great Ouse and the River Cherwell, through Charlton & Farthinghoe (one source of the Great Ouse). Around Charlton or Newbottle, the Medieval Drove Road of Welsh Lane diverged to the West, through Purston & Thenford, heading towards Southam & Kenilworth. This is also the point where the Roman Salt Way from Droitwich crosses west-to-east on its way to Finmere & Buckingham – then crossing Thornborough Bridge, the oldest Medieval Bridge in Bucks, on its way to intersect Watling Street at Fenny Stratford. The discovery of a large Roman Settlement on Welsh Lane near Chipping Warden also suggests a Roman Origin for the later Drove Road.
Beyond Cockley Hill the Route is lost once more & might have gone via Greatworth or Marston St. Lawrence. Again this is complicated by Local Ridge-Routes & Green Lanes interecting at this point, linking to Oxford Lane about 5-miles to the East.
Beyond Marston Hill the Route becomes clearer near Thorpe Mandeville. Three major Trackways converge on the Village: Banbury Lane runs Southwest-to-Northeast through the Village on its way to Northampton; Welsh Lane passes to the West of the Village, running North-North-West; & The Portway passes Northward through the Village. Becoming indistinct in the Hills beyond, The Portway runs from Culworth, between the Villages of Eydon & Moreton Pinkney, then climbs over the Hill into Preston Capes – where it joins with Oxford Lane which diverged back at Kidlington. Though the original Trackway is lost on this last Section, the Modern Road from Preston Capes through Newnham still shows Signs of its age. Crossing over the Ridge towards Borough Hill there are thick Ancient Hedgerows & the occasional Holloways on the Hill-climbs. – Paul Mobbs
Aston Rowant & Chilterns Spring Line Villages 