Londinium

London. A city of 9.7 million[1] people, it is the world’s financial center[2], receives the most tourism of any city, and is the single city that receives the most investment globally, hosting more ultra-high-net-worth individuals and international retailers than anywhere else. It’s history, however stems from The City of London, not to be confused with Greater London. The City of London comprises of 1.12 sq. mile within central London, with borders still defined by the roman walls that preceded it by almost 2000 years. I wish to first examine the Roman city of Londinium, particularly its foundation, how it grew into an ancient hub, and the reasons for its decline in the 5th century. I then will explore its impact on the modern city, of which is particular interest to me as I have resided in London for the past 19 years.

The first structures built in within the site of Londinium that have been dug up during archeological were timber remains that predate the roman settlement. According to Simon Denis,

The discovery follows that of a slightly later Bronze Age bridge found four years ago further up the Thames at Eton. The bridge at London dates to c 1500BC (two timbers were radiocarbon-dated to between 1750-1535BC and 1605-1285BC). The Eton bridge dates to c 1400-1300BC (two of its posts were dated to between 1500-1300BC and 1400-1200BC).

The two lines of posts at Vauxhall stand about 5m apart, twice as wide as the Eton bridge, and wide enough to allow two carts to pass one another comfortably. The overall width of the structure, and the size of the timber posts used - each was at least 40cm across - led to the interpretation as a bridge rather than anything less substantial such as a jetty.”[3]

However, whilst there is evidence of a scattering of Brythonic tribes and settlements in the vicinity, the earliest verified settlement was the Roman City of Londinium. It was initially founded in roughly AD 47, by roman legionnaires’, four years after the invasion of Britain by the Romans[4]. It grew from round the river Thames, and was largely a private enterprise. This town however was destroyed by Queen Boudica in 61 AD.

“The Romans annexed the territory of the Iceni (in East Anglia) after the death of the tribe's king, Prasutagus. It sparked a rebellion, led by his widow Boudicca, that erupted across south east Britain. The Roman towns of Camulodunum (Colchester), Londinium (London) and Verulamium (St Albans) were burned and thousands killed. Boudicca was eventually defeated by a vastly outnumbered Roman army under governor Gaius Suetonius Paulinus at the Battle of Watling Street. She died soon afterwards.”[5]

The main city was rebuilt into the roman city we know today in 65AD, as a pre-planned roman town based on a grid system. The main hub of it was to be a Forum[6].

“(A Forum) was a public square in a Roman municipium, or any civitas, reserved primarily for the vending of goods; i.e., a marketplace, along with the buildings used for shops and the stoas used for open stalls. Many fora were constructed at remote locations along a road by the magistrate responsible for the road, in which case the forum was the only settlement at the site and had its own name”[7]

This forum was constructed in the 70s to 80s, and measured 100m by 50m[8], with its main feature being a Basilica, along with some shops[9]. A Basilica was the administrative center of any Roman city, being both the seat of local governance in the form of the town Senate, and dealing with judicial matters. During this 1st century period, Londinium went through mass expansion. By the end of the century it was Roman Britain’s most populous city, overtaking Colchester.[10] With its population now reaching 60,000[11], buildings began to incorporated stone elements, even though unusually the majority of structures were constructed of wood. This is speculated to be the origin of London Stone, irregular blocks of oolitic limestone found in the historical construction of the City of London.[12]

The main developments to happen in Londinium during the Second Centaury was after the visit of the then Emperor, Hadrian.

“The impressive public buildings from around this period may have been initially constructed in preparation for his visit or during the rebuilding that followed the "Hadrianic Fire". This fire, which archaeologists have discovered destroyed much of the city, is not recorded by any surviving source and seems to have occurred in a time of relative calm in Britain; for those reasons, it is generally assumed to have been accidental.”[13]

It was during this 2nd century, at around 140 ADS, that Londinium was considered to be at its best. Developments to the city included piped water, and a drainage system. This was considered advanced, as only major and important Roman cities of this era enjoyed these facilities. This could also signify a changed in priorities within the Roman empire at the time, with the impact on the visit of the emperor being the rise in status of Londinium as a center of power. This is only further supported by the construction of an expansion to the forum.

“The gubernatorial palace was rebuilt and an expanded forum was built around the earlier one over a period of 30 years from around 90 to 120 into an almost perfect square measuring 168 m × 167 m. Its three-storey basilica was likely visible across the city and largest in the empire north of the Alps; the marketplace itself rivaled those in Rome and was the largest in the north before the Augusta Treverorum (Trier, Germany) became an imperial capital.”[14]

By the end of the 2nd century, Londinium had expanded to included multiple stone buildings, including baths, houses and forts. However, the population of the city began to decline, for undefined reasons. According to leading archeologists:

“The cause is uncertain but plague is considered likely, as the Antonine Plague is recorded decimating other areas of Western Europe between 165 and 190. The end of imperial expansion in Britain after Hadrian's decision to build his wall may have also damaged the city's economy.”[15]

The beginning of the 3rd century marked the start of a new period for Londinium. The way Roman Britain’s management occurred was changed, with the country split into two halves of governance. Londinium, however, rebounded despite only being the capital of half of the country, although was attacked sporadically by Saxon pirates. The history of Londium begins to end around 300 ADS, despite the fact that the settlement existed until 407 as a roman town until it was overrun by barbarians, but architecturally it is the 1st to 3rd century period that is of the most interest and in my opinion intellectual value. This is due the fact that most of the architecture after 286 ADS was reactionary to the declining Roman empire, and was to extend the life of failing buildings and infrastructure.

Therefore, I will focus on for me the most interesting architectural elements of Londinium within this period, specifically the Walls, Port and roads. For me, these components of the city not only defined it during the roman period, but have the greatest impact on 21st century London. To begin, The London Walls. From 190AD to 225AD, the Romans undertook the construction of the London Wall. It was constructed of ragstone, which is formed of stones that have been quarried into thin pieces. This is a historical construction method that has been used throughout the medieval period of Britain, but it is theorized that its origin was within Roman construction during the 1st Century, and today still influences some of Southampton’s and Yorkshires architecture.[16] These walls were one of the largest projects of Roman Britain, showing the significance that Londinium played within the country, but also the extent to which they were willing to defend the city.

“The wall was originally about 5 km long, 6 m high, and 2.5 m thick. Its dry moat (fossa) was about 2 m deep and 3–5 m wide”[17]

These wall’s exact reason for construction is not clear, although it is suspected to be linked to a series of invasions in the 180s, by the Pictish people. Another exploration was a power play by the governor of Londinium at the time Clodius Albinus. However, they survived for a following 1600 years in their entirety, and even today have a number of influences. They were used throughout the Saxon and Medieval period, and played a vital role in Britain’s defense during the 11th Century, the last successful invasion of the country. Today, the walls remain visible at 5 points within the city, and they denote where the City of London’s boundaries are.

The second most important structure for me within the city was the port. The majority of this structure was re-built after the revolution of Boudicca, with a reclamation of the water front which allowed a wharf-like structure was created. The port was formed of four separate sections, spread along the River Thames on which the city of Londinium was constructed. It appears from archeological evidence that:

“Major imports included fine pottery, jewelry, and wine.”[18]

Londinium however also played more of a role as a trading center, again relating to the same archeological evidence:

“Only two large warehouses are known, implying that Londinium functioned as a bustling trade center rather than a supply depot and distribution center like Ostia near Rome.”[19]

The impact of this international trading center aspect to Londium can also be felt today. Even in roman times, Londinium was a highly ethnically diverse city playing home to citizens from across the Roman Empire, including natives of Britannia, continental Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. This multiclaim, as well as the ports on the river Thames, both existed and are currently true of London, a city where over 300 languages are spoken.

Finally, the Roads for me arguable had the greatest impact of any aspect on the roman city. It became particularly important in ancient Britain due to its extensive road-based connections. Of 15 routes in the 2nd and 3rd century, 7 entered Londinium. This can still be felt today, with London a transportation AL hub for the nation, with the 5 busiest train stations and 3 busiest airports all serving London, with 30% of the biggest airport, Heathrow’s, arrivals being connecting flights.

In conclusion, Londinium was much more than a Roman City. It, during it’s relatively short 500-year history, laid the literal and metaphorical foundations for arguably the most important city in the world, influenced its shape, multicultural nature and role within the UK, and the building and architectural techniques that still influenced construct hundreds of years later. I also feel through this essay, I have gained a great deal of pride in my heritage, as a Londoner.

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