Kent

Showing locations of Roman constructions, and approximate recon-
struction of coastline at that time.

     
  
     
 
   
   
       
     
    
  
  
   
     

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TO HASTINGS

 

52

ullgsne n Vill

by Lt. Col. G. W. Meates, FSA
Director of Excavations

The Roman Villa at Lullingstone was dis-
covered in 1947 as a result of an archaeological
survey of the Darent Valley, and this was confirmed

by a reference in a book, “Custumale Roffense”,
published in 1788 by John Thorpe the Antiquary,
which recorded the finding of a Roman mosaic
floor at the north gate of Lullingstone Park when
posts for the Park fence were being inserted. Ex-
cavation at this point began in 1949 and continued
for thirteen consecutive seasons. The results were

spectacular, and have added much to what already
was known of country life in Roman Britain. These
main discoveries will be described later in detail.

The survey showed that Romano-British villas
occupied sites along the valley from Dartford to
Otford. These villas were at intervals of about 2%
miles, and the Lullingstone Villa is situated half-
way between the two places. Both Dartford and
Otford, with Farningham, consisted of a consider-
able group of buildings of the Roman period which

of the Wall but in A.D. 306 died while reorganising
the northern defences from Eboracum (York). He
was succeeded by his own son Constantine who
spent some further time in Britain before leaving
on a series of campaigns to make himself complete
master of the Roman world. Perhaps Constantine’s
greatest contribution to Britain came later: it was
under his rule that the Roman state embraced
Christianity as the State religion.

Under Constantius and Constantine the de-
fences of Britain had been set in somewhat better
order: the Wall had been restored, the fleet modern-
ized to combat the never-ending threat from the sea
and the forts begun by Carausius strengthened as
first line of coastal defence as the Saxon Shore
Forts (an article later in this issue gives a full de-
scription of these forts in Kent.) For some fifty
years this improved state of affairs gave Britain an
uneasy peace. The Picts and Scots from the north
gave moments of aniety: the Picts (or “painted

.\_ mes”) were the descendants of those Caledonian

tribes who had virtually forced the building of the
two northern Walls; the Scots were a later import

The ‘London’ medallion of
Constantius

\_,

having crossed the sea from Northern Ireland to
take up residence in northern Britain. Unable to
defend everywhere at once the government tried
to make them allies by allowing groups to
colonise land in the province. The move did not
have a great deal or success: in A.D. 367 the Picts
poured across the Wall in a massive invasion, the
Scots followed along the north and west coasts and
the Saxons swept into the south-east. The situation
was critical. The Count of the Saxon Shore (in
charge of the coastal defences.) was killed, as was
the Count of Britain, the governor of the province.

The situation was only saved when the Imperial
Government in Rome sent a capable general,
Theodosius, to Britain to take charge and drive
out the invaders. This he did: the Wall was again
restored, the east coast defences again strength-
ened. Timely as it was, Theodosius’ intervention
gave only a short breathing space. Nearly twenty
years later a general named Magnus Maximus took
a leaf out of Carausius’ book and claimed the Em-

49

pire of the West as his own. To support his claim
on the Continent he took the garrison troops with
him, stripping the northern defence line. This time
when the Picts and Scots attacked the Wall, they
were not driven back. The end however had not
quite arrived. Another general, named Stilicho,
came from Rome. Again the power of the northern
tribes was broken, again the shore defences were
strengthened. But the respite was short. Four years
later Stilicho left, taking with him the best troops:
Rome herself was threatened by the barbarian
Gothic hordes. Stilicho was victorious but never
returned to Britain: in A.D. 408 he was murdered
on the orders of the Emperor whose Empire he had
saved. In Britain confusion reigned. The remnants
of the army set up one leader after another: two
were murdered in the process. The third crossed to
Gaul to substantiate his claim and took with him
what was left of the garrison force. His vain attempt
left Britain defenceless. After his defeat and death
the Romano-British citizens appealed to Rome for
help, but the Emperor Honorius had troubles enough
of his own with the Goths hammering at his gates,

 

and told them they would have to look after them-
selves.

It is not certain that this ominous note of
A.D. 410 was the final gasp of Roman power:
the south and east of the country might have
been later re-occupied. By A.D. 429 this des-
perate effort (if indeed it ever took place) had
finally failed and Britain was on her own: no legions,
no fleet and no “Pax Romana” to defend her. The
Saxon raiders saw their opportunity: no longer were
raids and booty sufficient, colonisation and land
became their aims. As the sea-wolves crowded onto
the shores, Britain fought back as best she might.
But the Saxon power was not to be denied and the
light of the Romano-British cause flickered but fit-
fully after the legions had left:

In the next issue: The First Saxons