 The Paragon and, continuing out of the city, London Road are part of the A4 and are believed to be a Roman road, leading north from "Aquae Sulis" and linking with the "Fosse Way", around which Walcot originally grew as a Roman residential area in the 1st to 3rd centuries.Another major thoroughfare is Walcot Street, near the city centre, which is well known for its artisan shops.The parish church of St Swithin, on The Paragon was built in 1779-90 by John Palmer.