The Romans invaded Britain in 43AD and made their way along the south side of the Thames estuary until they reached a place where it was possible to build a bridge across the river. A town was built around two small hills, now Ludgate and Tower and roads radiated from Londinium as they still do. It is not difficult to make a straight road but having the road end at an intended destination is much more challenging. The road heading north from Bishopsgate, Ermine Street, crossed the river Rib at Wadesmill. This became a turnpike road that was maintained by charging tolls. The traffic was horse-drawn coaches and was so reliable that people were able to set their watches by it.

A survey of the road in the early 1800's resulted in a new bridge being made over the river. It was supported by six doric columns and being out of sight did not have fluted sides that were cut to diffuse the strong Mediterranean sunshine. Doric columns had a plain base and entablature unlike the next order with capitals modelled on scrolls, parallel for Roman and radiating from the centre in the Greek version. The third order was Corinthian, cut in the shape of an acanthus leaf and the three orders can be seen on the ruins of the Colosseum in Rome.