Silchester (sallow copse)

Near the village of Silchester, in north Hampshire, is the Romano-British town of Calleva Attrebatum. Roads from London, Dorchester, Bath, Old Sarum, Winchester and Chichester met there making it an important road junction. The Roman community were subsequently defended by an inner and an outer dyke system to protect them from Saxon intruders.

Much of the town was excavated early last century and remains of a church, possibly the first in England, was discovered. The Roman town walls are the best-preserved in Britain, and the amphitheatre has recently been restored. The site is now managed by the National Trust and is open all year.

References in main text:

         I   Early Forest (1)