The origins of the Derby to Coventry road may stretch back as far as the bronze age. By the early middle ages was it becoming an important road nationally connecting Derby to the growing town of Coventry and Banbury beyond.
Over time the route of the road appears to have changed. The earliest route probably crossed the Trent at Twyford and then went south to Ashby. The medieval route may have crossed the Trent at the ferry at Weston on Trent before making its way to Ashby. However, once the Swarkestone Bridge was built this was main crossing point.
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| Derby to Coventry Road |
From Ashby the route went to Packington. Here it appears to have split again. One route going via Shakerstone, Sibson and then onto Nuneaton. A second route went via Snarestone, Twycross, Atherstone to Nuneaton. From Nuneaton the route went onto Coventry. The first route from Packington may well have been the earlier one. The later route may have been influenced by the development of Atherstone and the construction of the Fieldon Bridge.
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