Meeting 27th January 2015

Illustrated talk by Bill King : 

"The Roman Invasions, Occupation and Colonisation of Britain"

Sutton Courtenay Village Hall - Tuesday 27th January 2015 at 7.30pm

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In his talk Bill King gave an outline of Roman influences in Britain over a period of some 400 years, from Julius Caesar's first campaigns in 55 and 54 BC, through the period of conquest, occupation and colonisation of Britain starting from 43 AD until Roman officials finally left Britain in about 410 AD.  He also described how the Romans came to create important settlements in our region, including significant ones in Sutton Courtenay, Appleford, Abingdon and Dorchester, to name just a few in the immediate vicinity.

He explained that, before the Roman invasion, Britain was a tribal society living in isolated hamlets with frequent raids between tribes.  The area around Abingdon would have been the province of the Catuvellauni tribe, which quickly and peacefully adapted to Roman rule and lifestyles.  This explains why there are the remains of Roman villas in the area, but no forts as these were built in other parts of Britain where the Romans met with more resistance.

A villa might have had a community of up to 100 people living in and around it and it was interesting to reflect on what the villa excavated in Sutton Courtenay might have been like.  

About the speaker

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Bill King has a keen interest in military history and research.  He has acted as historical adviser and appeared in several TV programmes, as well as giving talks on a range of topics to History groups and organisations.

His earlier talk to the Society in March 2012 was an absorbing account of the importance of the River Thames in wartime.

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