IRON AGE (PART 4 OF 4)
43 CE is traditionally given as the date when Iron Age Britain ceased and Roman Britain started, but, the influence of Rome began much earlier than that. Long established trading links between Britain and the Continent means that there had been the mutually beneficial exchange of ideas and goods since the Stone Age. Julius Caesar’s unsuccessful attempts to conquer Britain in 55 and 54 BCE put an end to Rome’s ambitions for almost a century.
It appears that conflicts between Iron Age tribes were the catalyst for another pursuit. Roman sources tell of a dispute between the Trinovantes, Catuvellauni and the Atrebates who were forced out of this area to what is now Chichester. Their king, Verica, fled to Rome to ask for the Emperor’s support. Claudius was in desperate need of a military victory to prove his worth and prepared to oblige. Whilst the main invasion force landed on the Kent coast, a secondary force sailed from Boulogne and landed in Sussex – most probably at Chichester where they were guaranteed a warmer welcome.
Led by Aulus Plautius, the Roman army is thought to have swept through Surrey on their way to London, pacifying the tribal kings as they went. The south east quickly came under Roman control allowing the army to push further west and north. Having established his capital at Camulodunum (Colchester) Claudius returned to Rome to celebrate his victory, leaving his army to continue their progress.
As this area of the country came under Roman rule quite easily there is little evidence of the Roman army in Surrey, but what there is comes from the Borough of Runnymede and surrounding areas.
At Staines there is some evidence of military occupation. It is thought that the bridge which enabled the Silchester to London road cross the Thames was built by the army.
The discovery of a cheek piece from a Roman cavalry helmet further supports this theory, although no other military finds have been unearthed.
Petters Sports Field in Egham also has limited evidence of military remains. During excavations in the 1970s when the M25 motorway was being constructed, a very straight palisade ditch was discovered with a military style entrance way.
The discovery of this Roman enclosure, together with a bronze military harness mount dating from the middle of the 1st century AD, suggests that the Roman army were based there, at least for a short period of time.
Despite the speed in which modern day Surrey became a Roman province, little changed for the local inhabitants, and it is difficult to assess exactly what impact the Roman settlers really had.
At first, Surrey probably continued as a client kingdom of Cogidubnus, leader of the Atrebates. The system of government altered, but this was of little consequence to the average person. Magistrates were now elected from each tribal council to act as local administrators.
They would report to the Governor, the Emperor’s representative in the Province. Financial matters were overseen by a Procurator, and taxes to pay for all this administration and the army were collected by the local tribes. Over time there was a gradual absorption of Roman ways and customs, and the local population became Romano-British, culturally very different to the Romans who lived in Rome.
There were more than 20 such rural villas in Surrey; alas none of them are within the Borough of Runnymede. All the Surrey villas are built on gently sloping ground, mostly facing east or south, and with appealing vistas over the Surrey countryside. Roman villas normally consisted of a bath house, complete with hypocaust heating systems, and this was also true in Surrey. A few mosaic floors have been found locally, which is a sign that the inhabitants were increasingly prosperous and able to afford a little luxury.
At Thorpe Lea Nurseries excavations show two distinct phases of occupation during the Roman period. The first occurred just after the invasion in the mid 1st century, and then when the site was occupied again from the mid 3rd century. Amongst the finds were a number of personal items such as fragments of bracelets and rings, as well as shears and a reaping hook, items associated with running a farmstead.
Unfortunately, little is known about the Romano-British people who inhabited these villas although it is normally accepted that they were local families who had prospered under the Romans, rather than immigrants from the Empire.
The Romans were highly skilled in civil engineering, metalworking and pottery manufacturing. These skills and new techniques were introduced into Roman Britain.
At Thorpe Lea Nurseries, Egham, there is evidence that during the 3rd and 4th centuries the Romano-British inhabitants ran an iron working business. Remains of a furnace lining and slag, the waste product left behind when metal is separated from its ore, have been uncovered indicating an industrial use of the site.
In the same way as the increasing influence of the Roman Empire on Britain was a gradual process, so was the decline. There was no sudden pulling out of the military, but a gradually retreat of forces back to Rome. By the middle of the 3rd Century the Roman Empire had extended as far as it could. There were thousands of miles of frontier to defend and over a quarter of a million soldiers employed to do it. Without the continuous addition of land and the war booty that accompanied it, the Emperor found it difficult to pay the soldiers and fund the administration of the provinces. Taxes had to increase and the financial burden on the Romano-British was enormous.