Sunken lane

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A hollow way (chemin creux) at Saint Bomer Les Forges, Orne, France

A hollow way in the XIX century, painting by L. Goville, 1830.

The aptly-named Hollow Lane, Canterbury, UK, joins the city to the Roman road, Stone Street.

A sunken lane, also called a hollow way or holloway, is a road which has over time fallen significantly lower than the land on either side. They are created by erosion, by water and traffic. Some are very ancient indeed with evidence of Roman, Iron Age or even earlier examples. The earth banks on either side, sometimes topped with hedges and trees, give the impression of a tunnel enclosing the traveller.

Because the roadway is restricted by the banks on either side, sunken lanes typically admit the passage of only one vehicle; that is, they are single track roads. Occasional passing places may be provided, but a meeting of vehicles in a sunken lane often requires one party to reverse to a suitable passing place. The banks also restrict visibility. When metalled, sunken lanes are unlikely to erode any further down.

[edit] In Germany

In Sauerland some sunken lanes are 4-5 metres deep. Alsheim and Mettenheim, Rhineland-Palatinate have one of the largest networks of sunken lanes in Germany, with over 30 km of path.

[edit] In the UK

Sunken lanes are a characteristic feature of the landscape of southern England, especially in greensand areas of the North and South Downs, and the Weald.

While many sunken lanes are now metalled, some are still unsurfaced green lanes, typically now designated as bridleways. A few sunken lanes are open to vehicular traffic as Byways Open to All Traffic, although the severe potential for increased erosion means that such usage is increasingly restricted.^{[citation needed]}