Rome's departure from Britain

I have done enough about the Roman history of the area of which I live and think it is now time to move on a little to the so called "Dark Ages". First we have to give a little background into how the North East became subject to the Anglo-Saxons.

 For three and a half centuries Britain was under Roman rule. The Romans built roads, towns, forts and temples, bringing with them soldiers and cultures from across Europe. They had conquered the native 'Celtic' tribes of Britain and established military control in the North with the construction of Hadrian's Wall and the huge legionary fortress at York. In the reign of Constantine the Great, they also brought Christianity. Constantine, who was proclaimed Emperor at no less a place than York, would himself become the first Emperor to convert to Christianity.


By 314 York was one of a number of important places in the Roman empire with a Christian bishop. Christianity however 
was , only one of a number of religions accepted within the Roman empire and it is not known how many Britons were actually Christians. The native people of Britain were ancient Britons, speaking a Celtic language resembling Welsh, but of course many would also learn to speak the Latin of the Romans. Many of these people continued to practice their native Celtic 'pagan' religions, while others may have adopted more exotic religions introduced from other parts of the Roman empire. One thing is certain however, in 300 years of occupation the Britons had intermixed with the multicultural Romans to form a 'Romano-British' society, quite different from the Celtic culture of pre-Roman times.


In the areas around the  Roman forts, native Britons intermarried with Roman soldiers enlisted from far flung corners of the Roman empire like Iraq or North Africa. At Housesteads on the Roman Wall, they may even have intermarried with members of the Roman garrison of Anglo-Saxon soldiers stationed at that  fort. But we should remember that these Anglo-Saxons were not yet native to Britain and came from the Germanic lands of the continent.

By 399 AD, three and half centuries of Roman rule in Britain were drawing to an end as the Romans commenced the removal of their troops from Britain. Attacks on Rome by the Visigoths from eastern Europe meant that reinforcements were desperately needed elsewhere and the Romans could no longer hold on to Britain as a military province. In the North of Britain, the depletion of the Roman army left the northern frontier of Hadrian's Wall severely exposed and revolts against the small scattering of Romans who remained soon gained momentum.

The Romans left a vacuum when they left Britain. The North East of England was ravaged by raids from Scandinavia  and Germany. The people did try to hold on to the ideas and the culture that Rome had bequeathed. The attacks from over the North Sea and from North of Hadrian's Wall became stronger and with greater numbers, and as the attackers began to stay, the legacy of Rome began to fade.  A new culture was taking strength, it was the culture of the "Norse" people. The invaders did not totally disregard what had gone before, instead they assimilated themselves into the area and the people. The Anglo-Saxon period  covers roughly from 450AD to 866AD


By 410AD the Roman troops had virtually left Britain, leaving her borders and shores defenceless. The North East was particularly vulnerable to attack from over the North Sea by raids from th Anglo -Saxons and from north of Hadrian's Wall by the Picts and Scots. The Angles, who were also known as Anglians , came from the border area between  Denmark and Germany, while the Saxons came from Northern Germany.


During the later years Rome's occupation, they  built several defensive watch towers along the coast to defend against the Anglo-Saxon raiders. In the North East, examples could be found at Scarborough, Goldsborough, Filey and Saltburn, but there were almost certainly others. When Roman rule came to an end the Anglo-Saxons continued to raid the coast but some however, were employed by the native Britions as mercenaries to defend Britain against attacks from the northern side of Hadrian's Wall  by the Scots and Picts. In return for their protection the Anglo-Saxons were given land in Britain , but it became increasingly obvious to the new settlers, that Britain was now a vulnerable province that was like a ripe apple, waiting to be plucked, and pluck it they did.

The Angles began to invade and settle in all parts of the eastern shores of England, seizing the area they called East Anglia by 440, along with Lincolnshire and other areas further inland. It is likely that the North East was already under attack or at least bracing itself for invasion, but some aspects of the Roman way of life still persisted. It is known, for example, that in 445 AD, Newcastle upon Tyne was still known by its Roman name of Pons Aelius - the site of a fort adjoining a bridge over the Tyne.

By 450 AD, the Angles had begun their invasion of the north, colonising land in the Yorkshire Wolds, just to the north of the Humber in a land they called Deira. This name was probably an adapatation of an exisiting Celtic tribal region or kingdom. Gradually the Angles would invade territory further north and began settling the lowland river valleys of the east coast including possibly the Tyne, Wear and Tees. Excavations at Norton on Teesside, have revealed evidence of Anglo-Saxon settlement in this early period. It is also possible that one group of Angles from Lincolnshire - a region then known as Lindis feorna (later Lindsey) colonised and named the island we know today as Lindisfarne. Lindisfarne was certainly known in early times as Lindis feorna.

The early Anglo-Saxon period was probably n an age of war and upheaval and our knowledge of this period is scanty. It is this early age of Anglo-Saxon invasion that is often associated with King Arthur, a Briton who is said to have fought against the Anglo-Saxons. He is reputed to have died in 537, perhaps on the Roman Wall, but little can be said of Arthur, since so little is known. He may not have existed at all. To give too much attention to a shadowy figure like Arthur, himself largely a creation of later Medieval writers would give a distorted and unreliable view of Anglo-Saxon history

Our limited knowledge of this early period has led to the term 'Dark Ages' but it would be  wrong to apply this term to the whole Anglo-Saxon age, as the Anglo-Saxon period is in fact a time about which we know a great deal. However, in the earliest period of Anglo-Saxon history it is very much a case for the gradual emergence of history from darkness.

One important clue to the early settlement of Anglo-Saxons is in place names, as most of the place names of our region and indeed of England as a whole, are of Anglo-Saxon origin and often tell us the names and activities of the first Anglo-Saxon settlers. Significantly, almost all places ending in 'ton' or 'ham' are of Anglo-Saxon origin, Washington is an example of that , The name comes from the local Anglo Saxon chief 'Hwaes', whose family 'Inga' had an estate 'Tun' there — 'Hwaesingatun'.

but there are many other types of Anglo-Saxon place names. Suprisingly the original Celtic and Romano-Celtic places names are very rare in England.

Roman Newcastle (Pons Aelius)

Newcastle upon Tyne in North East England can trace its history back to Roman times. During that period, the Fort that was built there was to  protect the bridge crossing over the River Tyne.This is how Pons Aelius is thought to have looked

 The fort was named Pons Aelius. Pons was the Lain word for Bridge, Aulius was the family name of the Emperor Hadrian , He also gave his name to the Roman wall, which stretches from Newcastle to Carlisle and was the northern most outpost of the Roman Empire.
                                                            

The Roman bridge at Newcastle was built of timber on stone piers and may have continued in use for many centuries. Records suggest that the bridge may still have stood in Norman times and if this is so then it was not finally destroyed until 1248 during a raging fire. It is highly likely that a medieval bridge which replaced this burned structure still utilised the Roman foundations.
The Roman bridge at Newcastle was built of timber on stone piers and may have continued in use for many centuries. Records suggest that the bridge may still have stood in Norman times and if this is so then it was not finally destroyed until 1248 during a raging fire. It is highly likely that a medieval bridge which replaced this burned structure still utilized the Roman foundations.


A little way to the west, built as part of the Roman wall was the Fort of Condercum. This is now Benwell part of the modern city of Newcastle. The modern name "Benwell"  is of Anglo-Saxon origin coming from the words Beonnam-wall, this means "a place within the wall". Today most of what remains of the fort at Benwell is largely buried beneath modern housing, but the defensive Roman ditch called the `Vallum' can still be clearly be seen along with the nearby ruins of a Roman temple dedicated to a local god called Antenociticus.

From Benwell the Roman wall continued east, towards the fort near the river at Newcastle called Pons Aelius. Between Benwell and Newcastle City Center.  Hadrian's Wall more or less ran along the course of what is now the Westgate Road. This road is built along the site of a Roman defensive ditch situated just north of Hadrian's Wall.
. The Roman Wall runs across northern England  from Newcastle  to Carlisle      

Initially the Roman bridge and fort at Newcastle formed the eastern end of Hadrian's Wall but later the wall was extended three miles further to the east where a fort called Segedunum was built at what we now know as the modern suburb of Wallsend. Segedunum was strategically located at the point where a short northward flowing section of the River Tyne suddenly turns east towards the sea. East of here the Tyne provided a natural continuation of Roman defences. This is demonstrated by the fact that one of the defensive walls of Wallsend fort actually extended into the River Tyne itself.

This is the reconstructed bath house and museum in 

Segedunum

Segedunum Roman Fort and Arbia Fort North and South Tyneside

Segedunum  Roman Fort is on the banks of the River Tyne, in the modern town of Wallsend, so called because it is at the eastern end of Hadrian's Wall. 

In AD122 the Emperor Hadrian ordered a mighty frontier system to be built across Britain to defend the Roman Empire from the barbarians to the North.

The result was Hadrian's Wall, a 73 mile barrier stretching from the River Tyne in the east to the Solway Firth in the west. Segedunum, which means strong Fort, stood at the eastern end of the Wall and was home to 600 Roman soldiers. For almost 300 years Segedunum guarded this important part of the frontier.

Today, Segedunum is once again the gateway to Hadrian's Wall. It is the most excavated Fort along the Wall and has a large interactive museum plus a 35 metre high viewing tower providing outstanding views across this World Heritage Site.

Segedunum Roman Fort, Baths & Museum is managed by Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums on behalf of North Tyneside Council.

A metro Train can be taken to  cross the River Tyne to South Shields , to visit  the Roman Fort of Arbeia. The metro is a good way to see Tyne and Wear as it is integrated to the local bus and main line train service.

In the early 4th century, a troop of boatmen were transferred from one end of the Roman Empire to the other. Abandoning the warmth of the River Tigris, they found themselves enjoying the delights of South Shields, a supply fort at the eastern end of Hadrian's Wall.

They no doubt noticed a number of changes. One in particular soon impinged on their consciousness: the climate of South Shields is not quite as warm as that on the Tigris. The commandant therefore set about building himself a new house which incorporated a number of heating devices. Furthermore he also decided to emphasise that he was a Roman, and not a barbarian, so he therefore determined to impress the barbaric 'Britunculi' with what is perhaps the finest fully excavated example of a commanding officer's house in Roman Britain, and the best understood classical house plan.

On the North East coast of England lies Arbeia, the Roman fort at South Shields. It lies just beyond the end of Hadrian's Wall, and served as the supply depot to the Wall. This photo shows the rows of granaries in which supplies were stored, with the recently reconstructed gatehouse beyond.

The house was not at the centre of the fort as is normal, but is tucked away at the south eastern corner - rather a long way away from the headquarters building in the centre of the fort; but then who wants to live on top of the office? Thanks to the excavations directed by Paul Bidwell and Nicholas Hodgson for the Tyne and Wear Museums, it is now possible to conduct a guided tour of the house.

Plan of the Commandants House. Entrance to the left (room 231) with bathhouse adjacent.

The entrance was to the west, through an elaborate aisled hall which might even be called an 'atrium', Room 21. In the corner the doorkeeper sat in Room 22, while adjacent in Room 23 was a small heated office where the less important visitors would be interviewed. At the centre of the atrium was a stone-lined pit that may have been a strong-box for the safe-keeping of valuables.We then pass through into the centre courtyard - very Roman in style, though there is a veranda only along two sides. To our left are the private apartments. Rooms 3, 4, 5, and 6 form a suite with doors leading through one to the other: the two end rooms 5 and 6 had central heating.Then at the far end of the courtyard was the piece de resistance - the triclinium or dining room (room 7). This was where the commander dined with his guests: at the far end, the classical arrangement of couches set around three sides were marked out by flagstones. It shows how even in the 4th century the commander of the Tigris boatmen was determined to maintain proper civilised Roman standards and to recline and loll about at his meals and not do as barbarians do, and sit up straight.

There was however one little problem: it was unheated, and in the winter it became a little cold (and probably in spring and autumn too). They therefore built a more intimate winter dining room adjacent in Room 12 which was smaller, but properly heated. The rooms between the two, 8 9 and 11 were presumably the kitchens - note the back door leading out to the intervallum street. Continuing round, Room 13 was a store room from which the hypocaust was fired: there was also a latrine in the corner. Adjacent, room 14 had a rough metalled floor, and drains, and was probably therefore a stable. Then coming back to the west end of the house there was a small but luxurious set of baths set adjacent to the entrance. Here at the far extremity of the Roman Empire the Tigris boatmen could behave like proper Roman gentlemen.

Plan of the 4th century fort at South Shields. At the top is a row of barracks, originally granaries.In the centre is the Headquarters building, the 'Principia' with the forecourt granary adjacent.Then comes another row of barracks, and at the bottom is the 'Courtyard House'.

The excavations at South Shields have continued to give surprises. The first stone fort was built around 160 as a conventional fort. However around 200 everything was reorganised and it became a supply base. A dividing wall was built across the middle and in the northern half all the barracks were pulled down and replaced by granaries. However around 230 AD it was re-organised yet again. In the northern half even the headquarters building was now replaced by a couple of granaries and a new mini-headquarters building was erected in the southern quadrant. This lasted to around 300 AD when it was all burnt down - accidental fire or enemy attack? And the new luxurious house was then laid out.

Underneath the barracks there have been further surprises. The most unexpected was the discovery of the parade ground of the very first fort of all. This is a large area of cobbles, all beautifully laid. The Roman soldiers clearly took their drill very seriously.

The Roman parade ground at Arbeia. Note the elaborate division down the centre, dividing it into quadrants.

Sealed beneath the parade ground was an even greater surprise, a well preserved Iron Age roundhouse which makes a satisfyingly long sequence of occupation on the site.

Buckingham Palace Garden Party

During the last few months I have been on extended sick leave. This is due to the ongoing problem I have with the right knee. The problem was originally caused by an argument with a taxi in Lisbon. The Taxi won, and I was repatriated back to the UK and The Royal Naval Hospital "Haslar" in Gosport where I spent about a year between 1988 and 1989. The QARNNS,  (The Queen Alexanders Royal Navy Nursing Service) and the Naval Surgeons saved the leg but the accident has left me with leg problems that will follow me for the rest of my life. Perhaps it would have been easier just to get in the taxi. The good thing about the extended sick leave is that I am having to rethink the way my life is going. Though I only have about six years left before retirement (unless that get changed as well due to the inheritance left to the Nation).

While on this sick leave I did have an invitation to attend  the Buckingham Palace Garden Party. As you can imagine, I was rather cock-a-hoop. I arrived at the Mall for 1500hrs on  the 22nd of June, as I stood in line, waiting to get in with the other guests, a Policeman told me to go to the gates and see his "mate". As I was in uniform I was allowed to go into the Palace early. I did as I was told. I was ushered through the arch under the balcony that the Royal Family uses for big occasions, and into the courtyard that is usually only seen on tv. We were then shown up the stairs by liveried staff to the main entrance and through the marble hall, passing paintings and other antiques as I sank into the carpet. We were then ushered through the Garden Room (originally built as a Library but never used as such)  I took time to look at the antique ceramic services in the wall cases around the room before passing through the door and onto the terrace.

The Garden Parties at the Palace were a concept of Queen Victoria in the 1860s The format has changed little , people still dress in formal clothes, Men and women in Dress Uniform or Morning Clothes and day dresses or gowns. Some of  The Clergy dress in frock coats and top hats. The Military bands play nonstop music . It is a day that is remembered for the rest of their lives,by those who attend. It is also a way that  the Monarch can say "thank you" to those who may never get any other form of formal recognition in the way of an Honour.