But for Ermine Street King Harold would not have made Hastings in the record time he did in 1066, even if parts had fallen into a state of disrepair. Think you underestimate the engineering emphasis the Romans put on the construction of arterial roads. After all, they were essential to commerce, military, and communication. Sorry would be happy to travel to Shrewsbury via Watling Street in the Roman era, plenty of hostels en route too. Fair chance of arriving safely, dry and probably mud free boots.
Fcuking Hell, it was a satirical throw away laugh...more at the expense of Steve the mean machine Hawking than Ricky and the Romans!
Even so, take a trip to Pompeii... cobbled streets, you and the mean machine would have had trouble navigating back in the day!