London 2000 Years Ago

London 2000 Years Ago

Before the Romans arrived some 2000 years ago there is no evidence of London existing as any sort of thriving town or village. When the Romans arrived they quickly chose the London area as the HQ for all activities in their new island colony perhaps because the area between present day Cannon Street Station and the Tower of London, on the north bank of the River Thames made an ideal port and with quick access to high ground. An ideal place to make a settlement. In addition, at this point two smaller rivers join the Thames from the north providing easy access to extra clean drinking water and additional defence from attackers.
These two rivers are now no longer to be seen but can easily be located.
The first is The Walbrook. The mouth of the Walbrook is now under Cannon Street railway station and it's passage from the north follows Walbrook Street which connects Cannon Street station with the Mansion House and the Bank of England almost due north.


The original Roman settlement stretched from The Walbrook river (Cannon Street Station) in the west to the Tower of London (which did not exist) in the east.
The second river is the Fleet just over a quarter of a mile west of the Walbrook which is a much larger river and flows north south under present day Ludgate circus and Farringdon street. Roman London eventually stretched from the Tower (built 1000 years later) in the east to the Fleet River in the west. London Wall was the northern boundary and over a bridge (on the site of present day London Bridge) to present day Southwark described the city limits in the south . Hence the area north of the Thames was approximately ½ mile north south and just over a mile east west.

Walking west from present day St Paul's Cathedral the road drops away steeply to Ludgate Circus and it is easy to imagine a large river infront of you before the bank rises steeply on the other side to a road now called Fleet street. Indeed the river is still flowing but in a tunnel under the street

After only a few years of Roman occupation, when the town had no protective walls a local British Queen "Boudicca", from East Anglia, burnt the place to the ground!
After Boudicca, over the next 200 years the Romans built "Londinium" into a fortified city of considerable wealth and comfort covering an area of some 330 acres surrounded by a wall 20 feet high.
It is possible today to "take a walk" round where the wall was, locating its position via its famous gates which names are still in existence today. Starting in the west at present day Blackfriars Bridge walk north only about 200 yards to "Ludgate" (now Ludgate circus). Continue north up Farringdon road and stop under Holborn Viaduct which used to be the junction with Newgate Street. Turn right up Snow Hill to Newgate St and at St Bartholomew's hospital you are now at the position of Aldersgate Make your way to London Wall (Street) and walk east, close to Moorgate tube station then Bishopsgate (street) towards Houdsditch (street) and cross Aldgate High Street and south towards the Tower of London down The Minories (street).

That's a quick trip round Roman London.

Many of the Roman London houses and the city wall were built of "Ragstone" which was quarried about 30 miles to the east of London at Maidstone in Kent. An easy passage by ship down the river Medway and up the Thames.

The Romans used London to bring in all their vital goods from the rest of their empire particularly of course military equipment. Also of course the comforts they were used to including: Olive oil, wine, dates, figs and salted fish. The containers would have been the typical earthenware jars of the day called Amphorae. They also imported bronze ornaments, pottery, glass and millstones. London would have had all the trappings of Rome at that time.