Old Kent Road a Celtic ancient trackway that was paved by the Romans and recorded as Inter III on the Antonine Itinerary. The Anglo-Saxons named it "Wæcelinga Stræt" (Watling Street). It joined Stane Street another ancient and Roman road at Southwark before crossing the Thames at London Bridge. The Inter III was one of the most important Roman roads in Britain, linking London with Canterbury and the Channel ports at Richborough ("Rutupiae"); Dover ("Dubris") and Lympne ("Lemanis"). Pilgrims, as documented in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, travelled along the road from London and Southwark on their way to Canterbury. In 1415, the road was a
Roman Road, London the 1920s. The shop was taken on in 1939 by George Kelly, from the Kelly Pie and Mash dynasty which had shops throughout London. In the mid 1950s the shop was bought by Bill Kingdon, George’s brother in law. The Kelly extended family also had a pie and mash shop at 310 Roman Road (now renumbered to 600). Today, the shop at 526 is run by Sue, Bill’s daughter, and her son, Neil. Since opening in 1912, this ice cream parlour and café on the corner of the Roman and Grove Roads served the community for almost 100 years before