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You are in [Themes] [Roman Hungerford] |
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 "Littlecote-105 Jul 1981w")
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In October 1978 a huge hoard of Roman coins was found by metal detectorists in Black Field at Mildenhall, just west of Ramsbury. This was known to be the site of the Roman military station Cunetio. The hoard comprised over 55,000 coins, weighing 3½ cwt, and was in an earthenware jar and lead box. See "Black Field yields Roman 'mint'" - Marlborough Times, 20 Oct 1978, The hoard was later declared "Treasure Trove". See "Treasure Trove verdict on Roman jackpot" - Marlborough Times, 6 April 1979. A branch off the road at Wickham, took a westerly route towards Aquae Sulis (Bath). Its line can still be traced passing Orpenham Farm, Clapton and Radley, to the junction of Wantage Road with Gipsy Lane (Folly Crossing) just north of Hungerford. From here its exact position is not clear, but it continued its westerly course, fording the river between Hungerford and Chilton Foliat, and then ran on the southern bank until it reached the military station of Cunetio (Mildenhall), where several roads met. At Littlecote Park, a mile to the west of Hungerford, recent excavations have rediscovered the famous Orpheus mosaic, which was originally found in 1730, but covered soon after by the owner of the estate to avoid publicity. The mosaic, which is itself very unusual in this part of the Roman Empire, lies in an elaborate chamber at the end of one wing of an extensive Roman building. Follow the link to Littlecote for much more on this important Roman villa. Evidence of Roman field systems have been found on Hungerford Common following an extensive and detailed survey carried out in 2005 as part of the Urban Commons Project by English Heritage. The Roman occupation of Britain lasted nearly four hundred years. During the fourth century there were repeated incursions by the Picts and Scots, as well as invasions from across the Channel by the Saxons. In 406 the Roman troops in Britain were transferred back to the continent, and by 410 the withdrawal was complete. The occupation had lasted the equivalent of 12 generations - the same span of time from Queen Elizabeth I to the present day. Despite this, the Britons themselves appear to have learned little about government and organization. Appeals went to Rome for reconsideration of the evacuation, but the empire was collapsing, there were greater problems elsewhere, and the last appeal dated 446 was ignored like the others before. British history drifted reluctantly into the period known as the Dark Ages, although recent knowledge and research is shedding some light upon it. See also: Updated: 7.7.2011 |