Roman Thatcham

Soon after the Roman invasion of Britain in 43 AD the 2^nd Augustan legion marched from the south of the country crossing the Kennet Valley at Thatcham. A road was constructed from Silchester, through the Wasing Park area, crossing the Kennet, probably at first by a ford and later by a bridge.

There is evidence of activity in Thatcham during the Roman period. Farms were set-up, potter, coins and wells have been found in the area too. There is no doubt something was going on in the Henwick Lane and Roman Way area.

Early in the fifth century AD the Roman legions were withdrawn from Britain to face the Barbarian hordes who were threatening the imperial City itself.

References

• Proser, A. W., Thatcham through the ages, Occasional Paper Number 2, Thatcham Historical Society: Thatcham, 1979
• Young, N., Roman Thatcham, https://nickbits.co.uk/blog/2019/05/roman-thatcham/, Last accessed 3 March 2021