Thanks for taking me on the walk. I live in Albany, Georgia USA. The walk was so calming. I guess we share the same experience. I do not see what is, but what was. Some time it is disconcerting to not feel you are in the proper time.
Yout suggestion in 2017 is even more resonant as I watched this in 2024…getting out in nature as a balance to every day life. Very true. Very enjoyable video.
I have walked the whole Essex Way, it is very pleasant and rural, and along with the St Peter's Way I have to say that Essex has some sublime countryside...
Hi John. Had you turned right at the top of Banks Lane rather than left back to Epping you would have been treated to a mile of dead straight Roman road across Tawney Common with big sky all around. When ever I drive it on the way to or from work the past comes alive! Keep the videos coming John - really enjoy them. Regards, Richard
Wonderful video, John. Each one is a weekly meditation. The Roman Road, along with the abandoned houses and the fading Union Jack conjures up images of the Legions departing back in the 4th Century AD
Many thanks Renfro - I love the image you conjure there, funnily I've been reading A Wayside Tavern in my local Wetherspoons which starts with that scenario of the last Roman legion walking through the forest bound for Walton-on-the-Naze
The flower is a Large Evening Primrose ( Oenothera erythrosepala ), introduced from America in the 17th c. roots were boiled and eaten, don't think I'll try it though. Love your video's :-)
first time i've come across ya, john; great stuff.you've a "good way wi ya", and your "rabbiting" is spot on, informed, not sparse and not too much...................to use the vernacular, hereabouts, thumbs up.
This video was amazing. I love all of your stuff that I've seen but this one was especially good. Very calming, ambient atmosphere about the whole thing and beautifully filmed. Thanks for sharing. Like you said, the world has been mental for the last couple of years, so 21 and a half minutes of respite is a very precious thing indeed.
The WH Smith's trailer has been almost completely smashed up now. The payphone still has a dialing tone but it covered in cobwebs...very apt visually. Someone has left a folder in one of the side entrances to the church with photos and info of some of the people buried there, quite a beautiful thing to find
I love those walks where you feel total isolated and you don’t meet anyone. I feel it connects you more with your surroundings. Great video John you have another subscriber 👍
John Rogers look forward to the video. It’s so nice to get out into the open as much as possible. I am walking across the breacon beacons in July. I am heading west to east although not to sure my dog will be.
Hello John, I really loved how you captured the essence of the area, ruins, nature, etc before you got to the Roman road. That's something I find interesting when I have the chance to visit Roman places. Great great video!! This is definitely a hike I want to do next time I have the chance to visit the UK. Cheers from Australia!
I used that box in the early 70s to ring home to say scooter broken down Dad come and towed me home with the car. To leytonstone.. Sadly Mole Trap Pub in Tawney Commin has closed down..
Here our John does stand up - a pigeon coop houses "chickens" and a flock of seagulls mysteriously take the form of the missing "pigeons"....I think you had a few ales en route, John. Haha! Always great. Flytippers are low so low.
Thank you for posting John, its a really enjoyable video. I work at the top end of the county and when I leave work in the early hours of the morning, I drive along about 4 miles of dead straight B road out of Colchester the old Capital of Roman Britain. Thousands use it each day and probably never give it a thought and its not marked on any maps as being Roman. We are very lucky in this Island to have this history. I have used an OS map and a ruler and think it once headed to Thetford Norfolk. Thanks
Nice walking with you John, I identify with the fascination of random distractions and the wonder of walking ancients ways. Your video reminded my girlfriend and I of our many walks in South East England this summer, some of which traced routes of old.
Ah, another lovely calming video from John. (Plane flying low up ahead) "what the fuck is that?!" That bit made me chuckle. Thanks for another beautiful video John.
I was there, on that spot not so long ago. In fact I had a crafty wee and admired the view at the same time. Problem occurred when my blood pressure suddenly dropped midflow and I fainted!!! Horrendous time.
Thanks John - it was a great afternoon - good to hear that it stands out from the road, All Saints claims to be a landmark. Yeah the light is lovely even though it was an overcast day - would be great to go back for a nice sunset
stumbled on your channel and must say what a fantastic video so well made and edited just like a TV programme I live in Dagenham and like walking so il be watching a lot of your stuff fantastic stuff john I know how long a video like this takes to put together
thanks so much for watching and commenting Gary - I really love making these videos, haven't had so much time recently but I make a special effort to find the time to keep making them
I found the whole video so relaxing I was dozing off! What was the hypnotic music playing quietly in the background? The bit in the middle was particularly soporific 👍🏻
Hi John, as an American I only recently learned of the Roman occupation of Britain from the "Fall of civilizations podcast" here on TH-cam. Incredible stories! Thank you for this.
"what the f**k is that". I love watching the early days John you were horning your videos and thoughts of demonetisation on TH-cam wasn't on your mind , fascinating stuff as always.
Like the green lanes often an old road used for droving this is short one in riding valley meadows runs down and riding to loughton and was the route to Romford Area cattle sheep market its crossed M11 on bridge often used for Horse Riding for the Disabled or was..
Hi John. Just revising this walk after several years. Marvellous. Be interesting to see what further development has sprung up since 5hen. Did you ever walk the Essex Way?
lovely stuff. I was thinking a lot of the woods you walk through John, do you think they were coppiced originally, as they dont seem to be many really thick mature trees. Just a thought.
Oct 2016 the worlds gone slightly nuts,looks like entering a bonkers phase oct 2020,that rusty farm machinery roller thingy used for createing a fine tilth.
I am very interested in history, thank you for sharing this. Here in the USA these paths would be private land and you could not walk them, are they different there?
England is covered by a network of public footpaths, public bridleways and green lanes. They all have different access rights: pedestrians can use them all, horses can use bridleways and green lanes and cyclists can use green lanes. I may not be entirely accurate with these classifications (perhaps if an error has been made someone could correct me) but these paths are all clearly marked on Ordnance Survey maps (which are available everywhere). These maps were made originally for military purposes in the early 19th century and are updated regularly and are the key to walking around England. England does have very strong laws of trespass on private land so a walker like John cannot go where he pleases. Hence John frequently refers to his OS maps.
Hi John, I think your videos are great and I’m very interested in the ones in the Epping and surrounding areas and villages. I’m originally from Roydon and I know quite a lot about that area.I have since moved away from Essex but do return periodically, I would love to join you one day and walk and talk all about the area and share some of my knowledge with you. Email me if you’re up for it.Regards Guy.
Lovely video, John. I've visited Monks Walk and the church at Theydon Garnon, while on a walk to the Richard Harris land art installation just south of Theydon Bois (www.holli.co.uk/theydon.htm), but I've not walked up the Roman Road from Hobbs Cross. Hadn't realised there were such good views from up there ... must make sure I get to the area again before too long!
But seriously John, why not crowd fund a full length feature - walk to edinburgh or Dublin or rome if you want? I firmly believe your support base would assist - I start the pot with £100
'The world has gone a bit nuts in the last year.' I agree that it already had at this point but looking at it now, that seems like an under statement. Had I been given the option in advance, I may well have settled for cutting my losses. These videos are a welcome distraction, without them I may well have joined the nutters.
Enjoyed watching this. shame about all the fly tipping but still, nice walk. there are loads of old roads and trackways around. I use maps.nls.uk and use the spy glass to hover over modern google maps to highlight the old tracks. it's really interesting, also shows old buildings graveyards and the like. well worth a look. keep up the good work.
A truly inspiring video. I wish my walks videos were half as good as this! You may be interested in that I have videos of all of the Essex Way on my channel.
Must have been a bit eerie at the church seeing your name on the grave stones and your grandfather’s name You might be related as names tend to follow in families
yep - a weird political year, and continuing on, weirder . . . I totally agree about 'absconding' (what a lovely word - escaping for a walk with a cream tea at the end?)
Cafs are essential (to me, anyway) for reflecting on the walk/sketching etc, please show any great old 'formica' haunts if you come across any; I sadly miss the vanished ones in Town from my earlier London years.
JOHN, IF YOU STARTED YOUR WALKS EARLER < RATHER THAN LATER !! > YOU COULD HAVE A MID DAY BREAK AT A PUB FOR A NICE MEAL AND A DRINK, TRY IT, IT WOULD BE FAR BETTER THAN RUSHING PAST PUBS, WITH NO TIME TO STOP FOR A WHILE FOR A MUCH DESERVED A ND WELL NEEDED REFRESHING BREAK !!!!!.
How do you, and we, know that you are walking along a "forgotten Roman road"? I saw lots of English countryside and dumped rubbish but nary a thing to persuade me that a Roman road ever existed where you walked.
@@Baskerville22 of course - the Ordnance Survey maps contain a range of data - the archaeological information is based on archaeology. But if you're interested in more detailed information about the Roman Roads around London - including the one in this video - there are some excellent articles and reports on London Archaeologist and the Museum of London Archaeological Service websites. You can also find some of this info in my video from earlier this year where I go in search of a fragment of Roman Road found in Leyton. There are links to articles in the video description
Thanks for taking me on the walk.
I live in Albany, Georgia USA. The walk was so calming. I guess we share the same experience. I do not see what is, but what was.
Some time it is disconcerting to not feel you are in the proper time.
That's exactly how I feel. I've always felt like I belonged c 1500
I've always wanted to follow an old Roman road so thank you for uploading this!
Those forest trails were magical. So many lovely pastoral vignettes on that walk. Thank you.
Yout suggestion in 2017 is even more resonant as I watched this in 2024…getting out in nature as a balance to every day life. Very true. Very enjoyable video.
It's lovely walking around Essex with you John. Thank you.
Great music on this walk, mate …
I have walked the whole Essex Way, it is very pleasant and rural, and along with the St Peter's Way I have to say that Essex has some sublime countryside...
many thanks - I'm thinking of doing the St Peter's Way this summer with a bit of luck
Hi John. Had you turned right at the top of Banks Lane rather than left back to Epping you would have been treated to a mile of dead straight Roman road across Tawney Common with big sky all around. When ever I drive it on the way to or from work the past comes alive!
Keep the videos coming John - really enjoy them.
Regards, Richard
Loved it … thank you for these great films
'sometimes i sit and think, and sometimes i just sit'. Ace, John .. many thanks.
Thanks for sharing your walks John always a pleasure to watch.
Thanks Stewart - love sharing them - really appreciate you watching
A real joy to watch.
The hiking paths are such a great idea in England.
The music is some of the best for a TH-cam video.
Late to the party John, but here in Australia loving the depth of video's i still have to watch during 2023 and catch up !
I walked a section of Stane Street yesterday, it was the London to Chichester Roman Road, thats what brought me to this video,
Many thanks :)
Wonderful video, John. Each one is a weekly meditation. The Roman Road, along with the abandoned houses and the fading Union Jack conjures up images of the Legions departing back in the 4th Century AD
Many thanks Renfro - I love the image you conjure there, funnily I've been reading A Wayside Tavern in my local Wetherspoons which starts with that scenario of the last Roman legion walking through the forest bound for Walton-on-the-Naze
The flower is a Large Evening Primrose ( Oenothera erythrosepala ), introduced from America in the 17th c. roots were boiled and eaten, don't think I'll try it though. Love your video's :-)
Many thanks for that - must remember my wildflower book next time
harpocrate princeofgnomes
Have many in my garden this year my dad's favourite
@@Listermintsluesh Evening primrose oil is used for premenstrual syndrome (PMS), symptoms of menopause, arthritis, swelling, and other conditions
@@maudegonne3740 wow
Lovely walk really enjoyed it
Your videos are so calming and pleasant to watch! You've inspired me to explore my own city and its surrounding areas.
Thanks Naomi that means a lot - best of luck on your explorations
Very warming and filled with wonder, thanks for the walks/insights and atmospheres you paint with film John.
Many thanks indeed for watching and your kind words - I love making these videos and sharing them with you
first time i've come across ya, john; great stuff.you've a "good way wi ya", and your "rabbiting" is spot on, informed, not sparse and not too much...................to use the vernacular, hereabouts, thumbs up.
Thanks so much Bob - greatly appreciated
This video was amazing. I love all of your stuff that I've seen but this one was especially good. Very calming, ambient atmosphere about the whole thing and beautifully filmed. Thanks for sharing. Like you said, the world has been mental for the last couple of years, so 21 and a half minutes of respite is a very precious thing indeed.
Many thanks indeed for the kind words
The WH Smith's trailer has been almost completely smashed up now. The payphone still has a dialing tone but it covered in cobwebs...very apt visually. Someone has left a folder in one of the side entrances to the church with photos and info of some of the people buried there, quite a beautiful thing to find
Nice one John. One of your best ever, I think
Thanks Ian - very kind of you to say so
I love those walks where you feel total isolated and you don’t meet anyone. I feel it connects you more with your surroundings. Great video John you have another subscriber 👍
thanks very much 3-4-3 Football - it's surprising how frequently this occurs. I'm heading out to the hills tomorrow and expect the same
John Rogers look forward to the video. It’s so nice to get out into the open as much as possible.
I am walking across the breacon beacons in July. I am heading west to east although not to sure my dog will be.
thank you so much from one who would love to visit your beautiful country!
Thank you Susan - hope you make it one day
Some stunning paths! Great video.
Thanks very much - such a fantastic walk, a real pleasure to make the video
Such a lovely video John, I love the ambient music, it has made me feel so relaxed and your narrative is soothing and fun. Thank you 🙏
Hello John,
I really loved how you captured the essence of the area, ruins, nature, etc before you got to the Roman road. That's something I find interesting when I have the chance to visit Roman places.
Great great video!!
This is definitely a hike I want to do next time I have the chance to visit the UK.
Cheers from Australia!
Thanks so much for that Riccardo- I find it so fascinating walking the old roads and trackways, some teaching back to the Neolithic
@@JohnRogersWalks have you walked the Hadrian's Wall? I've been there in 2015 and definitely look forward to coming back to that track and Vindolanda.
Another great film John, what a great route too. This lock down is giving me a chance to catch up on all these great walks, thanks so much.
I used that box in the early 70s to ring home to say scooter broken down Dad come and towed me home with the car. To leytonstone..
Sadly Mole Trap Pub in Tawney Commin has closed down..
I really enjoy watching your walks thank you 👍🏼
Hello john, really like watching your videos i live opposite claybury park and spent much of my childhood at epping and hainault. Great memories.
thanks Robert - what a fantastic place to grow up
Here our John does stand up - a pigeon coop houses "chickens" and a flock of seagulls mysteriously take the form of the missing "pigeons"....I think you had a few ales en route, John. Haha! Always great. Flytippers are low so low.
This video is very well put together.. can imagine seeing this on tv
Ok maybe bleep out the what the f#@k is that when the jet went over 😂
thanks Simon - ah, the swearing, I usually manage to restrain myself, an odd lapse
Thank you for posting John, its a really enjoyable video. I work at the top end of the county and when I leave work in the early hours of the morning, I drive along about 4 miles of dead straight B road out of Colchester the old Capital of Roman Britain. Thousands use it each day and probably never give it a thought and its not marked on any maps as being Roman. We are very lucky in this Island to have this history. I have used an OS map and a ruler and think it once headed to Thetford Norfolk.
Thanks
Nice walking with you John, I identify with the fascination of random distractions and the wonder of walking ancients ways. Your video reminded my girlfriend and I of our many walks in South East England this summer, some of which traced routes of old.
Brilliant, thanks John.
Thanks Nic - much appreciated
Wonderful views. Thanks for the walk.
Thanks for watching Mary
So pleased to have found your walks, will be watching all eventually. Thanks john have subscribed. ☺
thanks tomgirl - I've got 4 new ones waiting to be edited as well
Ah, another lovely calming video from John. (Plane flying low up ahead) "what the fuck is that?!"
That bit made me chuckle. Thanks for another beautiful video John.
It sounded like a A10 tank buster but then flew outa trees like a private plane WHAT THE FAK IS THAT 😆
I was there, on that spot not so long ago. In fact I had a crafty wee and admired the view at the same time. Problem occurred when my blood pressure suddenly dropped midflow and I fainted!!! Horrendous time.
one of your best here John. I've often driven off the M11 and looked up to that area .. It's the natural light too..
Thanks John - it was a great afternoon - good to hear that it stands out from the road, All Saints claims to be a landmark. Yeah the light is lovely even though it was an overcast day - would be great to go back for a nice sunset
Love the music.
stumbled on your channel and must say what a fantastic video so well made and edited just like a TV programme I live in Dagenham and like walking so il be watching a lot of your stuff fantastic stuff john I know how long a video like this takes to put together
thanks so much for watching and commenting Gary - I really love making these videos, haven't had so much time recently but I make a special effort to find the time to keep making them
ok can see why you do this totally so peaceful reconnect with yourself and nature xx
Exactly - I find it essential, haven't managed to get out much since New Year and really feeling it at the moment
I love Roman walks. Have you walked Roman Silchester? It’s a great place for a walk around the town walls and ampitheatre. It’s really stunning.
Nice PUB at Tawney Common The Mole Trap..
Some of the aircraft are from Stapleford near Abridge...
I’d really like to head back out there soon
I found the whole video so relaxing I was dozing off! What was the hypnotic music playing quietly in the background? The bit in the middle was particularly soporific 👍🏻
Very clever, who told you about this walk
Hi John, as an American I only recently learned of the Roman occupation of Britain from the "Fall of civilizations podcast" here on TH-cam. Incredible stories! Thank you for this.
That’s a really fantastic podcast- learnt so much from that episode, in fact I mentioned it in a recent video that features Boudicca’s obelisk
Ma che cazzo studiate da quelle parti
"what the f**k is that". I love watching the early days John you were horning your videos and thoughts of demonetisation on TH-cam wasn't on your mind , fascinating stuff as always.
spectacular
Thanks very much Jaded - it was a great walk
John Rogers it was indeed - and you shared it with us beautifully
England's green and pleasant land.
Indeed Robin - even with the motorways cutting through the beauty still shines
Like the green lanes often an old road used for droving this is short one in riding valley meadows runs down and riding to loughton and was the route to Romford Area cattle sheep market its crossed M11 on bridge often used for Horse Riding for the Disabled or was..
Lovely walk thank you. I couldn’t manage the music unfortunately so had difficulty hearing your commentary.greetings from Oz
Hi John. Just revising this walk after several years. Marvellous. Be interesting to see what further development has sprung up since 5hen. Did you ever walk the Essex Way?
Thanks Steve - I walked the first and last sections of the Essex Way - videos on the channel- need to walk the rest
lovely stuff. I was thinking a lot of the woods you walk through John, do you think they were coppiced originally, as they dont seem to be many really thick mature trees. Just a thought.
hi Simon - absolutely, and I think that's true of much English woodland, it's been heavily managed over a long period of time
Oct 2016 the worlds gone slightly nuts,looks like entering a bonkers phase oct 2020,that rusty farm machinery roller thingy used for createing a fine tilth.
Perfect.
How do you get home after your walks? X
I float along in John's wake like a cluster of dandelion seeds
Thanks David - that's very flattering
15:30 your there then ya not , whose withya on those walks I wonder
I am very interested in history, thank you for sharing this.
Here in the USA these paths would be private land and you could not walk them, are they different there?
England is covered by a network of public footpaths, public bridleways and green lanes. They all have different access rights: pedestrians can use them all, horses can use bridleways and green lanes and cyclists can use green lanes. I may not be entirely accurate with these classifications (perhaps if an error has been made someone could correct me) but these paths are all clearly marked on Ordnance Survey maps (which are available everywhere). These maps were made originally for military purposes in the early 19th century and are updated regularly and are the key to walking around England. England does have very strong laws of trespass on private land so a walker like John cannot go where he pleases. Hence John frequently refers to his OS maps.
If you ever want to do the whole 82 miles,I'll go with you ;-)
Thanks for the offer Jack
Hi John, I think your videos are great and I’m very interested in the ones in the Epping and surrounding areas and villages. I’m originally from Roydon and I know quite a lot about that area.I have since moved away from Essex but do return periodically, I would love to join you one day and walk and talk all about the area and share some of my knowledge with you. Email me if you’re up for it.Regards Guy.
Thanks for that Guy - so glad that as a local you enjoy the videos - means a lot
Lovely video, John. I've visited Monks Walk and the church at Theydon Garnon, while on a walk to the Richard Harris land art installation just south of Theydon Bois (www.holli.co.uk/theydon.htm), but I've not walked up the Roman Road from Hobbs Cross. Hadn't realised there were such good views from up there ... must make sure I get to the area again before too long!
very sad how people fly tip John x
I like the way the camera titled back right at the end! Happy accident.
+Joel Somerfield serendipity
But seriously John, why not crowd fund a full length feature - walk to edinburgh or Dublin or rome if you want? I firmly believe your support base would assist - I start the pot with £100
That’s really kind of you. It’s certainly crossed my mind - just a case of finding the right journey
Believe me, you don't want to arrive in Rome!
'The world has gone a bit nuts in the last year.' I agree that it already had at this point but looking at it now, that seems like an under statement. Had I been given the option in advance, I may well have settled for cutting my losses. These videos are a welcome distraction, without them I may well have joined the nutters.
Enjoyed watching this. shame about all the fly tipping but still, nice walk. there are loads of old roads and trackways around. I use maps.nls.uk and use the spy glass to hover over modern google maps to highlight the old tracks. it's really interesting, also shows old buildings graveyards and the like. well worth a look. keep up the good work.
Pigeons ! Good grief.
Odd area Hobbs Cross and Tawney Common very empty...
A truly inspiring video. I wish my walks videos were half as good as this! You may be interested in that I have videos of all of the Essex Way on my channel.
Many thanks indeed voxley - and thanks for making the Essex Way videos I'll check them out
Thanks. Let me know what you think of them.
1:51 Definitely not Roman (fly tipping) remains !
RUN RABBIT RUN, NO NEED TO RUN BACK TO YOUR ABODE /JOLLY JOHN ONLY WANTS TO SAY HELLO WHILST WALKING UP THE ROMAN ROAD !!!.
I thought the background music was a bit yukky and annoying as well as the traffic noise and that plane.
Must have been a bit eerie at the church seeing your name on the grave stones and your grandfather’s name
You might be related as names tend to follow in families
Evening Primrose
yep - a weird political year, and continuing on, weirder . . . I totally agree about 'absconding' (what a lovely word - escaping for a walk with a cream tea at the end?)
+Kate Hardy it makes going for a walk far more interesting
Cafs are essential (to me, anyway) for reflecting on the walk/sketching etc, please show any great old 'formica' haunts if you come across any; I sadly miss the vanished ones in Town from my earlier London years.
JOHN, IF YOU STARTED YOUR WALKS EARLER < RATHER THAN LATER !! > YOU COULD HAVE A MID DAY BREAK AT A PUB FOR A NICE MEAL AND A DRINK, TRY IT, IT WOULD BE FAR BETTER THAN RUSHING PAST PUBS, WITH NO TIME TO STOP FOR A WHILE FOR A MUCH DESERVED A ND WELL NEEDED REFRESHING BREAK !!!!!.
Evening primrose
Proof of all Historic CLAIMS are Required.
MAYBE THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO WELCOME YOU FAMOUS WALKS VIDEOGRPHER JOHN.
Ha, lovely idea
I wonder why you don’t have apps on your phone to tell you about the trees an flowers that you can’t identify on your walks ? Mate.
Teasels
Pigeons !!!!!
Get ya 💯 on that John go get lost n lose ya sen that flag will always be tho
How do you, and we, know that you are walking along a "forgotten Roman road"? I saw lots of English countryside and dumped rubbish but nary a thing to persuade me that a Roman road ever existed where you walked.
It’s marked on the Ordnance Survey map
@@JohnRogersWalks Is that based on archaeology ?
@@Baskerville22 of course - the Ordnance Survey maps contain a range of data - the archaeological information is based on archaeology. But if you're interested in more detailed information about the Roman Roads around London - including the one in this video - there are some excellent articles and reports on London Archaeologist and the Museum of London Archaeological Service websites. You can also find some of this info in my video from earlier this year where I go in search of a fragment of Roman Road found in Leyton. There are links to articles in the video description
@@JohnRogersWalks Thank you
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