7. The British road system was rectified by Roman engineers. The chief route was now over London Bridge; the Roman road along Oxford Street was made in connection with the enlarged Londinium issuing from it at Newgate; it was continued to Brentford, where it met the older road by Piccadilly; the old track from Westminster to Verulam was improved only from this new road, and the link across the river became of secondary importance; Mile End Road superseded the route by Old Ford. There were thus older and newer roads—British ways following the higher and harder ground; and Roman roads laid down in straight lines.
In saying that London had its origin as the port of Verulam, I would not necessarily imply more than this: each may so have reacted on the other that it would be impossible to say which was the first cause. It is possible, indeed, that the Belgic kingdoms of south-east England were founded by invasions striking up the river, and that a landing at the site of London was earlier than settling down about St. Albans. It is remarkable that the Cattivellauni and Atrabates occupied much the same relative places in Britain as they did in their continental homes about Chalons and Arras. In this case, however, London would be none the less the port of Verulam.
Camden clearly saw that London began as a port. Discussing its name, he suggested as one possibility that “It might have had its name from the same original that it had its growth and glory; I mean ships, called by the British Lhong; so that London is a Harbour or City of Ships. For several cities have had their name from shipping, none of which can lay better claim to the name of harbour than our London. For ’tis admirably accommodated with both elements, and the river Thames brings it in the riches of the world. Moreover, it is such a sure and complete station for ships that one may liken it to a groved wood, so shaded it is with masts and sails.”
Conyers, the old antiquary apothecary, two centuries and a half ago, said: “Verulam was a kingly seat of the Britons, and the principal trade they had was between Verulam and London. So that on Watling or Verulam road there was a communication backward and forward.”
THE END
INDEX
- Alexandria, [8].
- Alignment, [46], [53], [145], [152].
- Altar, [128].
- Ante-fix, [29].
- Apotropaic sculpture, [140].
- Apse, [33], [35], [42], [44], [47].
- Arches, [12], [17], [18].
- Atys, [139].
- Augusta (Londinium), [219].
- Bacchus, [144].
- Barbican, [80].
- Basilica, [16], [33].
- Bastions, [62].
- Baths, [49].
- Bone objects, [203], [212].
- Bricks, [10], [15], [37].
- Bridge, [41], [44], [54], [80].
- Britannia, [129].
- Bronzes, [121], [139].
- Buildings, [32], [33].
- Capitals, [11].
- Carpentry, [21], [30], [43].
- Cemeteries, [84].
- Chariot races, [51], [199], [204], [210].
- Chimney, [24].
- Christianity, [94], [96], [158], [160], [208], [212], [214], [217], [225].
- City (the), [55], [83], [119], [129], [184].
- Coffins, [92], [208].
- Coins, [220].
- Colour, [85], [112].
- Columns, [11], [16], [28], [34], [35], [39], [135].
- Commerce, [193], [202], [215], [230], [234].
- Concrete, [10], [12], [27], [37].
- Constantine, [220].
- Copings, [11], [116].
- Crosses, [156], [219].
- Cymbeline, [230].
- Dadoes, [167].
- Decoration, [161].
- Diana, [128].
- Ditches, [79].
- Education, [191].
- Enamels, [206], [224].
- Figure painting, [171].
- Floors, [27], [158].
- Flues, [15], [23], [43].
- Foot-rule, [8].
- Ford, [241].
- Forum, [33].
- Friezes, [136].
- Gates, [76].
- Gladiators, [199], [204].
- Glass, [31], [148], [159], [194], [202].
- Gods, [103], [127], [132].
- Greek workmen, [160].
- Hadrian, [121].
- Hercules, [127].
- Hinges, locks, etc., [30].
- Houses, [23], [42], [44].
- Hunting, [198].
- Hypocausts, [23].
- Imperial statues, [121].
- Impersonations, [126].
- Inscriptions, [42], [110], [115], [149], [161], [176].
- Jove and giant columns, [101], [139].
- Lamps, [222].
- Latin, [20], [184], [193].
- Leadwork, [32], [140], [208].
- Leather work, [212].
- Lettering, [176].
- Lions, [140].
- Londinium (origin of), [228].
- Mace (bronze), [238].
- Marbles, [42], [99], [174], [194].
- Masonry, [9].
- Mausolea, [109].
- Mirror, [203].
- Mithras, [133].
- Monograms, [221], [225].
- Mortar, [12].
- Mosaics, [42], [142], [175].
- Mouldings, [11].
- Opus signinum, [17], [27].
- Ornament, [135].
- Orpheus, [149], [160].
- Osulstone, [242].
- Painting, [29], [33], [35], [42], [162].
- Peacocks, [139], [151].
- Pewter, [211], [225].
- Piling, [14], [21], [43].
- Pine-cones, [139].
- Plastering, [23], [28], [35], [226].
- Porphyry, [174].
- Port, [28], [80], [193], [230].
- Portraits, [124].
- Pottery, [194], [200], [232].
- Roads, [243].
- Romanesque art, [30], [137], [143], [159].
- Roofs, [10], [16], [25], [29], [39].
- Saints of London, [218].
- Sarcophagi, [94].
- Sculpture, [85], [100], [114], [119].
- Sewers and drains, [21], [37].
- Site and soil, [84].
- Skirtings, [29].
- Statues, [42].
- Streets, [33], [40], [43], [52].
- Style, [7], [11].
- Sun-dial, [161].
- Symbolism, [138].
- Tablets, [99].
- Temples, [49], [150], [187], [191].
- Thames impersonation, [132].
- Thatch, [23].
- Theatre, [51].
- Tomb-houses, [116].
- Tombs, [84], [100], [112].
- Tools, [8], [30].
- Turning, [30].
- Vaults, [17], [35].
- Walbrook, [61].
- Wall (the City), [16], [57].
- Wall tiles, [25].
- Walling, [9], [13], [22], [33], [37].
- Water-pipes, [21], [32].
- Wattle and daub, [10], [22].
- Wells, [44].
- Westminster, [19], [240].
- Windows, [29], [31].
- Winds, [133].
- Zodiac, [133].
- Transcriber’s Notes:
- This book uses the mid dot “·” to separate the integer part of a number from the decimal fraction.
- Missing or obscured punctuation was silently corrected.
- Typographical errors were silently corrected.
- Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation were made consistent only when a predominant form was found in this book.