roman bankside

what did London Bridge do?

offered an accessible crossing point between North and South banks and linked several major Roman roads

why was London Bridge important?

it was important for transport systems, trade and shipping

remains of the Roman Bath house today

In September 2011, Network Rail announced remains of a Roman Bath House had been found on the corner of Borough High Street and London Bridge Road.

what physical features/stuff from roman bankside has been found today?

- Roman coins were found
- Pottery was found
- Remains of Roman Amphora were found in Roman Bankside near the London Bridge
- Traces of buildings such as temples were found
- Oil lamps for lighting and vessels for cooking and drinking were found which provide insight into the lives of the Romans

what are some of the challenges faces when trying to understand roman bankside?

- The course of the river has changed, destroying some of the remains.
- There has been 2000 years of change + construction on the site, making it hard to find Roman remains
- There are few written and picture sources of Roman London

who created the first site and when?

Romans successfully invaded in 43AD and settled on the Thames North Bank, where they built London Bridge

Why did the Romans settle in this area?

It was surrounded by a river and the water was needed for drinking, cleaning and disposing of waste
The river created good trade opportunities as it was a quick way to transport goods.
The river made travel for the Romans easier.

what was bankside like before Roman occupation

The southwark district was mainly marsh, with isolated areas prone to flooding at high tide and the river was wider and shallower than it is today

what roads did the romans build?

Watling Street, which ran from Canterbury in Kent to St Albans via Londinium, and Stane Street which ran from London to Chichester.

Why did the settlement decline?

- The Roman settlement declines in the 2nd century but it recovered later in the years of the 3rd century
- It is thought that with the 'barbarian' invasion of Italy, the Romans were forced to recall Britannia's legions to Rome's defence in AD 410, so the Romans left. Urban settlements did eventually collapse and decay.