![]() ![]() This Roman new town developed over the centuries of occupation to become the region’s capital, with streets laid out in a grid pattern to accommodate the splendid houses, shops, temples and public baths. ![]() The Romans did however start to build their own ‘new town’ at Winchester, known as Venta Belgarum, or market place of the Belgae. Additionally, the invading Romans did not even feel threatened enough to establish a military fort in the area from which they could control revolting natives. The Begae’s hill fort appears to have fallen into disrepair many years before the Romans arrived. Shortly after the Romans landed at Richborough in Kent in AD 43, legionary soldiers with auxiliary troops marched across the whole of southern Britain capturing Iron Age hill forts when necessary, and imposing Roman rule upon the local population.Įvidence suggests however, that Winchester’s Belgae tribe may well have welcomed the invaders in with open arms. Winchester would remain the exclusive home of the Celtic Belgae tribe for the next two hundred years or so. The first permanent residents of Winchester appear to have arrived in the Iron Age, sometime around 150 BC, establishing both a hill fort and also a trading settlement on the western edge of the modern city. ![]() ![]() Few however may realise that some of Winchester’s first settlers arrived there more than 2,000 years ago. Modern day visitors to Winchester in the county of Hampshire can’t help but soak in the history as they wander through the ancient streets of this small city. ![]()
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