The Roman Town that VANISHED - The Calleva Story
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- Опубліковано 14 тра 2024
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Today we take a look at The Abandoned Roman Settlement of Calleva Atrebatum. Why is the town no longer here despite being a hugely important?
Credits: Music: Epidemicsound and Artlist.io
Sound Effects: Epidemicsound and Storyblocks
Additional Footage: Storyblocks - artgrid.io
Roman Road Diagram - Roman Road Research Association.
Additional Drone Footage:
Hedley Thorne / @hedleythorne
Opochka: / @opochka
Maps: OS Maps Crown Copyright 2023 - Media License.
Maps: Google Maps.
Maps: National Library of Scotland
ALL Lidar: EA Via Phil Barrett (Twitter: @Phil_M_Barrett )
Filter: Snowman Digital and Beachfront B-Roll
Other Filters: Storyblocks
Pictures:
Molly Cottons Grave: S Hay
Silchester Excavation: University of Reading.
Joyce Note Book: Reading Musuem
Devils Highway: Sandy B
Great Dover Street: Robin Webster
All Eagle Pictures: Marcus Cyron
Chequer Lane Signpost: Shazz
Silchester Drawn Map: Ivan Lapper
Duke of Wellingtons House: Brendon and Ruth McCatney
Iron Duke Pub: Stuart Logan
Re Roman Map: Feitscerg
Coins: LimmieLine123
Other Pre Roman Map: myself
Winchester: Peter Trimming
Xcavation generic shot: Hut 85
Chapters:
Intro: 00:00
Routes: 00:59
The Eagle: 02:46
The Portway: 05:26
Pre-Roman: 11:46
The Walls: 13:20
Amphitheatre: 17:11
Conclusion: 19:11 - Розваги
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I live on the outskirts of Scarborough. I am within view of the building site that unearthed the unique Roman building,the purpose of which they are not even sure of. There's two main theories,one that it was a temple monastery and two that it was a health spa.These two theories don't seem to fit with its geographical position.
I'd be interested to hear your opinion.
The wells got contaminated perhaps ? Without a water source a largish town would be uninhabitable . It would also explain why they were filled in.
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@@yorkshirecoastadventures1657 1¹
@@cwwiss1 ¹
It is amazing that you can go out and make a film as well written, original, entertaining and as well filmed as anything on The One Show or Coast … all by yourselves . Thanks !
Very kind. Thank you
This is absolutely amazing! I had never heard of Calleva until now. Your conjecture about Alfred et al wanting to make Winchester the indisputable capital of Wessex and later all England rings very plausible. It is always the victor who writes the history and the Saxons would be very keen on expunging the memory of Rome with its lasting association with the ancient gods.
The Dark Ages is a very interesting time for many, simply because its study requires much intelligent conjecture based on broader known facts. Keep up the great work of springing these surprises on us. Best wishes to you and Rebecca.
You mean *better than* any massively funded TV drivvel. I can tell you why too - Paul and Rebecca don't have an imperial-remnant socio-political agenda to foist upon the populace.
the one show is far less professional
Really is. And all for free. Most grateful! 🙏
What I find most impressive about that site is that it's just there. There's no ticket office, no visitor centre, no café, no guides. You can just turn up and wander around it. Incredible that so much of the walls survive.
That's a really good point John
I know...hate it when the state hands places over to some heritage firm and they put a gate around it and charge you for seeing something that's been there for hundreds, and some for thousands of years.
As someone who lives in the USA, we have very little preserved history. The old is torn down and much of the old is just non-existent (I would assume unkept wood just rots away). And to top it off, our nation is relatively new.
Great show. This is only my second video of yours I’ve watched. You’ve earned a new, grateful subscriber. 🤌🏽
back in the day Reading university ran the largest archaeological dig in the country at the site (I was one of the student archaeologists). Trench was 50 by 50 meters!
It ran for many years and during dig season we let visitors in and gave them talks about the work and what they were finding.
I visited Silchester / Calleva Atrebatum years ago. The amphitheatre is even more impressive than the wall. When I visited ( I drove down from west London where I lived) it was near late afternoon or early evening. It was getting dark, and the amphitheatre was quite spooky. There have been stories that it was haunted by the cries of gladiators who died there. Even if you don't believe tales like that, there's no denying the atmosphere of the place. I didn't hang around there long, as daylight began to fade.
I remember back when I was at school our Roman Britain teacher was also one of the IT teachers, and one lesson we had to make a website about an aspect of Roman Britain; so somewhere online I had a geocities site all about Calleva Atrebatum, with pages showing the finds from Reading University, etc. I was quite proud of coding the html that let you hover over the modern day map and it would change to the plan showing what it would have looked like in Roman times, all lined up the same.
Honestly Paul I don't know why the BBC or some other major TV channel don't sign you up as a documentary maker/presenter. The quality of this vid is amazing and your drone footage is the cherry on the cake.
BBC would ruin it.
@@SteamCrane yeah, you might be right, but Paul would be paid a lot more. 😉
I agree, the whole production is of very high quality, and Paul is an excellent presenter. I just stumbled on this channel after a video with Tony Robinson exploring, and I will rate Paul's work at least as high, or better.
If I could have had people like you and Rebecca and Martin Zero teaching me history I'd have probably have taken it as a subject.
What you portray is a very real, physical and local history, as opposed to the " Written By The Winners" bunkum with its obsession over dates in history rather than the trends that led to those dates. What you do is truly fascinating, more power to your elbows.
Too true! I took Archeology to get out of History at school, but have always regretted that as I now know nothing about our (or anyone else's) history! But thankfully we've got people like Paul and Rebecca to help us out of that ignorance!
Keep Up the Good Work!!! 🤠👍
"the rain adds to the atmosphere" spoken like a true Englishman! Best wishes from sunny Australia.
I walk the walls often, it’s a really peaceful place. The Victorian’s dug the site but they were “less than careful” and destroyed much evidence of the past history. Thank you for sharing this. Excellent presentation. Hope it doesn’t attract too many extra visitors.
That is a real tragedy, enthusiasm without rigor.
@SteamCrane unfortunately the Victorian view of the world from a British perspective had its many flaws..although archaeology and a fascination with our past(dinosaurs Darwin etc) came to the fore they went at it rather like a bull at a gate.
@@markwalker2627 We are fortunate that they didn't find and trash everything.
You have certainly got the right format, very professional, absolutlely fascinating, and your joy at being there really came across. That few extras minutes turns your production from a walk to a documentary, don't get me wrong, I loved your past input but this goes to the next level so all credit to you.
It's interesting that Venta Icenorum, the Roman town near Norfolk associated with the Iceni tribe, is similarly abandoned.
Yup, one of a small handful I guess
Maybe it was a deliberate attempt by the Saxons to remove the original centres of power that the Romano British tribes occupied? I'd imagine it would make it easier to subjugate the population, if you erode their identity.
They moved to Norwich. The capital was in Thetford, which was also the capital of East Anglia.
The gravestones around the churchyard wall is not uncommon in rural churches in East Anglia as a maintenance aid when many of them have fallen over a long period of years. The grass may then be mowed. Sometimes in city churches where the churchyard is highly elevated this is not uncommon to allow further burial of the dead over the centuries until the churchyard was closed.
The gravestones at the boundary may just be ones moved to make space. Often seen in churchyards closed for burial (in some cases to make easier for council mowing!). Example is All Saints', Huntingdon (family church of the Cromwells, incidentally)
I have to say Paul, this new system of video production is great. Having a video drop out of the blue on a Wednesday was most welcome. Having longer more indepth content really works. I confess i had never heard of the place which is a shame. It's a quite splendid and intriguing abandoned settlement. More of the same is something to look forward to.😊
Excellent. The BBC used to do documentaries long ago and no doubt at some expense. Look at what one guy can do with one camera and knowledge of history. The eagle find inspired Rosemary Sutcliffe to write her novel Eagle of the Ninth. Rather fanciful as scholars today would suggest, as the Silchester eagle isn’t military, more likely a civil eagle decorating a room in a public building. Great video. Thank you for your work
Most summers, archeologists from Reading University come and dig part of the site. It is great to pop in and see what they have found and uncovered. A couple of years ago they dug the baths in the south-east corner and uncovered some amazing stonework. After the dig, they cover it all over again.
They study hiStory, the past is very different.
@@telx2010 wah wah wah the past is history its not complete and its biased but thats what we have
Great video Paul. Lots of hard work both researching and editing I'm sure, and it shows. Thanks a lot for this one.
Great video. Very interesting. Headstones were laid around the edge of cemeteries if the graveyard was full - they would reuse the land. Another reason is if a graveyard was reduced in size.
Thanks Paul. New to me!
@@pwhitewick Under the Church law gravestones can't be removed (from the graveyard) without permission from the family... Gets difficult to find the family after decades/centuries! The gravestones can be moved, but not removed from site. Using them as slabs/walls etc is the next best thing to make room/tidy the graveyard.
Agreed.........
My mother-in-law's cemetery in Scotland was left untended in the run up and during Covid-19 problems with grasses, bushes and trees growing out of control and reaching several feet high.
Finally after age and vandalism had taken their toll, the council sent in the strimmers along with a few skips to remove "dangerous" broken gravestones and monuments.
A notice was pinned to the entrance advising owners of lairs to either have the stones removed and replaced at their own expense or they would be binned!
I could listen to your voice all day long. You make the seemingly mundane very interesting.
Ahh well thanks 😊
This was a fantastic documentary, easily as good as the things I see on Nebula etc. Thank you peeps.
We used to live not far away in Reading, and I used to regularly drive my bus within half-a-mile of the place. Being a bus-driver meant that I got free travel, so we went there several times with my two boys. It's a ideal place to let them let off steam (running around the amphitheatre, for example).
I used to live in Silchester Road in Tadley, and when I was there the University Of Reading was conducting a dig for many months in Silchester. Very interesting it was too.
I also used to drink in the Calleva Arms pub just down the road.
A well-crafted, informative video of a mysteriously short-lived Roman settlement and its pre-Roman origins. Very enjoyable. I can you put a lot of work into this, and hope you do more of them.
Thanks Malcolm
A lot of these videos are better at teaching than many professors of history lectures.
Wow! Ditching the need to chase those daft weekly deadlines has definitely paid dividends in the production values, guys.
Fascinating topic. Excellent video.
Cheers 👍
Thanks Paul, great watch.
I live in an old Town with Roman Baths 150 yards from Home. Antonine Wall Build.
Facts are the Town is only seen as Roman because it held two Iron Age Hill Forts the Romans had to dominate to take control & develop.
This old History is covered rarely - Romans seen to arrive & develop Towns - but really only upon areas already 'thriving' and defended at strength. Facts my Town has spoken to me about, similar to your own work.
Regards
You have brought to life with your passion this wonderful treasure left by those before and in a special way keep unknown persons in our minds. Fantastic job editing this video into in an interesting fabric telling this story.
Thank you for todays video. A fantastic tour into the Roman past. Always enjoy your videos, always intriguing to comprehend. See you on the next. Cheers Paul! 😊
This is one of the best UA-cam channels, keep up the good work😊
Wow, thanks!
There have been lots of finds by locals and a number of villas. Some Villas survived to 1500's The plagues changed everything and ended all communities in the area.
honestly, ive been hooked on your channel for a couple of years now, but the roman stuff you do is next to none. i cant find another channel like it. i just wish there was a channel like yours in the peak district where i live. you are both brilliant on camera and make it look so easy. walking around and getting those shots and talking to camera is DIFFICULT. well done and you are documenting history as you go. perfection
More to come and more from different locations. Currently we are tied into school runs but only for 2 more months!
There is a Roman milepost on the Fosse Way near to Ilchester (Lindinae) exact location difficult to describe. The finest example of a Roman road in England is the stretch near Blandford, Dorset which resembles a railway embankment. This has been cut away in sections to reveal its construction the road itself having become grassed over. You simply cannot miss it when passing nearby.
@@christophernoble6810 Christopher.... please do email me!!!!
The 'problem' with this channel is that it takes away the urge to look further.
@@GiacomodellaSvezia nah
Not for me
Better than anything on the tele this . Better made , better presented and just better full stop . Well done both of you .
Ste , Liverpool
Is that the Independent Scouse Republic of Liverpool?
Silchester would have been walled in stone along with the other cities at much the same time, about the late 2nd, early 3rd century. After a period 4th century stone bastions strengthened the fortifications, as at Portchester, Chichester, York and other cities in Britannia. The consensus is that the plague about 530AD weakened and in some places decimated Roman town populations and people fled and resettled in surrounding rural parts. This evidence and the knowledge of deaths meant that some cities were avoided by the incoming Anglo-Saxons. Certainly it was in some instances some two hundred years until settlements recovered and defences were later to be repaired. At Exeter king Athelstan renewed the defences and built the Rougemont Gate in the late 970s (the fortifications there were strong enough to withstand the Norman attack for 18 days!). Thanks for the excellent information Paul, most absorbing, and having visited this very large site some 15 years ago I must return soon.
I love that description of the Catuvellauni, they were a different kettle of fish " I live in StAlbans, by verulamium their primary settlement , just a couple of miles from the wheathampstead oppidum .
They expanded very quickly, a lot of archaeologists claim they were one of the last of the belgic tribes to migrate to Britain, but by 50bc were causing enough trouble to attract the attention of the great Julius Caesar,..
He achieved little, he returned, he claims he achieved his goals , but the continued aggressive expansion is all contrary to Caesar's claims.
Great video, Paul. You must have taken inspiration from our vlog! We did a state of the art re-enactment in the Amphitheatre!
Thanks, I'll check this out later.
@@pwhitewick that would be great! It’s in the Roman Gazette playlist and is called: Vanished Roman Town!
Lovely work, Paul! I can see that a lot of work went into that video.
I’m on a mission - though probably an unattainable one - to get folk to try and also say the name of Roman sites with their Classical Latin pronunciations. You probably already know this, but in Classical Latin an ‘A’ is pronounced as in ‘bat’ and an ‘E’ as in ‘bet’. The ‘V’ is closer to a ‘W’ or ‘oo’ as in ‘wet’. The ‘R’ is rolled on the tongue. This gives a very different sound to CALLEVA ATREBATVM. Keep up the great work! 👍
At one time my father live near there and we would take a walk through the old walls. Always seemed odd to me to think there had been a whole town there. I seem to remember foot path through there. He would have loved this video but he is long gone. He taught me to love history. Thank you for your work to show us our roman history.
We lived at Tadley from 1951 on the estate built for the AWRE, (the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment). Silchester, and Calleva Atrebatum was quite near. Yet it was a completely closed site and whilst one could see some of the walls frfom a local lane, there was no tourist information whatsoever ! I suppose this must have changed some many years later, when I had left home, spent time in the army, then university, and finally career with British Rail. So your video is of great interest ! It does make me wonder what a future archeologist will make of the remains of AWRE a few miles away !
I lived in Tadley until 2019 and it was open to tourists then and I used to drink in the Calleva Arms pub.
Very interesting Paul - If you just walked past it - you wouldn't think it was a Roman wall - just a normal old wall!!! Thanks for sharing 🙂🚂🚂🚂
Lovely presentation as always. Thank you.
Yeah, I think you cracked it. Both Winchester and Dorchester are on rivers. And when the Saxons built new cities nearby, like Basing and Reading, they also were on rivers.
During the iron age a city needed to be on a defensible hill, so Calleva was in a good spot. During Roman times it needed to be on the crossing of major roads, so it was still in a good spot. But without the romans, the roads would start collapse, and the primary means of communication were the rivers. A trade town, such as Calleva, that didn't have a river crossing? Pointless. It probably shrunk rapidly, and people then just decided to entirely abandon it, and make it unlivable for enemies as well, so nobody could use the fortifications.
Award winning production Paul and Rebecca (did not see a glimpse of her this time). It's great that you raise more questions, overtime your works will attract attention and received wisdom will provide some of the answers, but mere mortals find this stuff riveting. Love the voice overs too. All that's missing are the tight black trousers. (i will get my coat)
Didn't she play the part of Rev Joyce's wife? I don't know Rebecca's legs well enough to recognise her from behind...
@@bobswan6196 Perhaps you mean Molly/Mary Cotton who qualified as a Dr. It's a long time since I have seem Rebecca's legs (as previously said she usually wear tight black Trousers), perhaps Paul and Rebecca will confirm - but well spotted Bob.
Take a creator going fast, catching his breath, a accent and overlay it with awe-inspiring music to let the words be less understandable :)
Excellent video Paul. Loved your tour of the site and all the interesting info. Now inspired to go and see the Silchester collection in Reading museum.
Thanks Paul, great episode. I seem to recall that the north road to Alchester may have been deliberately blocked at some point in/after Calleva's history
Ooh id be keen to know more.
@@pwhitewick Now that's testing the old memory banks!😆
Couldn’t find it in any literature I have at home. Suspect it may have been from a public info board during a site visit in the 90’s
The inhabitants of Calleva deliberately dropped a huge object down a well to kill it. Water would have been an issue. A lowered water table did for Old Sarum near Salisbury. In Switzerland the major Roman city of Avenches also lost its water as did the civilian town of Augst- the military settlement had its own water supply from snow melt via an aqueduct.
Thanks Paul,, really interesting video as usual, loads of facts kept my attention throughout. Brilliant.
Thanks again Paul.....
I live a mile away from Silchester - thank you for giving this lovely place some publicity :)
Silchester was probably abandoned because the wells went dry. The climate was warmer in Roman times. Another great video.
Such an impressive and professional explanation of Silchester. Many thanks.
That was terrific Paul, brilliant content and lovingly executed. If this is the quality of films after the “rushed” weekly format, just keep going at your own pace!
Not sure what you have done with Rebecca in front of the camera, but sure she will be involved soon.
Marks out of 10? 10!!! Loved it😁👏👏👏🏴
Why weren't you around making these extraordinary videos when I was studying Latin at school ? Really excellent geographical and historical introduction to pre-Roman snd Roman Britain. Thankyou
Love this! All hail the algorithm. Filling in wells is a step beyond abandonment, which makes it curious
Just come across this on Utube really enjoyed the history thank you
Thank you
Paul, I am so glad I found your channel. This is some amazing content.
A pleasure Sir!
Fascinating. Thank you.
Fabulous tour and content, enjoyed it immensely
I am fiddling "Swinging on a Gate" on my violin.
5km from my home in Alentejo, Portugal are the ruins of Ammaia, a Roman town of 13,000 people. Little remains above ground. The stone was taken to build nearby homes, churches, a cathedral and castles. As yet, only 5% of the site has been excavated, turning up the most amazing tombs, jewellery, statuary and the finest glassware I've ever seen. At a time when in Britain we were using shaved horn in windows, Romans were producing fine, intricate glass jugs one or two millimetres thick. These were found in perfect condition inside excavated stone tombs. Unlike other Roman towns, Ammaia was never built upon, just abandoned where it stood in early medieval times. It's unexcavated remains lie literally at the surface of the fields now covering the site. A small museum is on site. Well worth a visit. Take a picnic. The location, overlooked by the hilltop castle of Marvão is mesmerically beautiful.
Fascinating look at was a large Roman trading settlement, shame the roads aren't better looked after. Mind you taking care of Roads here in the UK isn't one of our strong points. 😂😅
Good work. Excellent vid, thank you.
Thank you for this video! I love that place.
The depth of detail you go to find these fascinating places is amazing! I wish modern concrete held up as well as Roman concrete. Lol! Well done. 😊
This was absolutely riveting! Best regards.
I'm breathless just watching this. I'd never heard of Calleva but I will definitely be visiting this year. Thanks for this upload.
So interesting. There is so much history I have never heard of. So thank you for keeping it alive and educating me in my older age. So enthusiastic.
Most informative, Paul. Thank you.
I've lived in this area for 40+ years, have walked the walls many times, and lost count of the times I have cycled along the lanes next to the site. But, I never knew any of the detail that you shared. Thank you again.
Oh, there's also a nearby street by the name of Portway. Never knew where the name originated, and it's nowhere near to the Portway!
Visited Silchester in the early spring. Enjoyed this
A very good watch. keep on. Cheers
Thanks Allan
One of your best videos Paul! Loved this, thank you :)
I lived in Tadley. There is a lot of local knowledge and finds particularly near St Peters and tales from the Black death
Very informative. Many thanks for the presentation. I would love to visit that amphitheatre.
Appreciate all the hard work to make this video. I visited a couple of months ago just by accident while looking for something to do. Fascinating place, easy to get to and a big car park.
Watching this while sitting in my local. The Calleva Arms,Silchester.
Second time 😂🤣
Very interesting and top class presentation and editing. Awesome!
Amazing to think such a place could just disappear into history. Really enjoyed this one.
I’ve been watching your videos for some time and lurking rather than commenting… but I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed this. Beautifully shot and narrated. Somewhere that’s been in my list to visit for a while but haven’t quite managed to get there - this has spurred me on to make it so!
Great video. Appreciate the effort that was put into this one.
A fine video Paul, of our local Roman site. I have visited many times over the years, and it continues to attract me.
Thank so much for this video. Brilliant .
Thanks for watching.
Brilliant. I had no idea.
Fabulous story and very well put together Paul. Long time follower and first time I've commented... Keep up your great work and love this new format. Love from Australia.
Uttterly fascinating. An excellent video of an intriguing mystery.
I think that’s one of the best films you’ve made. As one other contributor said, it’s TV quality. Absolutely fascinating. I love the lost station films but sadly there is so much gone when you get to the locations. When you’ve got actual walls and a Roman amphitheatre it just brings it to life. You must be very proud of that production. Congratulations.
Thank you 😊
❤ the new longer format. Fascinating video
Certainly enjoyed the walk with you today. great video. keep up the great work
Wow! This was very nice to watch, yes, the rain always adds atmosphere, doesn't it?
I always like driving along Ermin Street in Swindon or nearby, it gives a reminder of what things used to be like.
Thank you both for your excellent production and editing :))
Love your enthusiastic videos! Keep it up.
Oh wow! I immediately knew where you were from your mention of Caesar's Belt, because it's mentioned several times in Watership Down. My favourite childhood book and which I've recently re-read to my 8yo son. Other than its description from a rabbit's perspective, I had no idea of the real history.
Very interesting video. Many years ago (about 57) when I was 12, before computers, sat nav etc. I was in a car with my mum and dad, one very wet dark winter evening, and my dad got lost driving around Silchester and we kept going along very narrow roads and coming back to crossroads to Silchester and Mortimer. We remembered this for years because it took such a long time to find our way back to the main road route. My mother was very interested in history and found books about Silchester, so getting lost around there started a life long interest in the unknown story of the place, which seemed to have been such an important place in Roman times, still a puzzle today!
Excellent and interesting video. Lots of research and information. Thank you.
Loving the content, Paul. Thank you very much.
I really love the way you tell the story. The satellite images makes the picture very clear.
The movement of the camera while walking nearly gives me motion sickness.
Maybe think about getting one of those camera stabilisers with a gyro inside.
Another great video. Many thanks Paul
Love the content, and brilliant presentation!
I really love the quality of your recent video’s. I think the change from weekly video’s to the new style pays off. Keep it up! 👍🏻
splendid video paul ......my thanks .......can't wait for the next one
Another great video, loving the more in-depth format.
This was such a fun video to watch!!!!!!!
That was excellent and very interesting. Many thanks Paul. I will have to do some more research so I can maybe visit the area as it is not that far from me being in South Hampshire near the wet bit.
Another great video! Always a fascinating watch full of details, particularly like the roman vids (I love roman history)
Wow, so glad I found this video and you were as blown away as I was when we stumbled across Silchester during a weekend trip to Newbury for my other half's job interview 5 or 6 years ago. Well presented and lots of interesting information throughout- and capped it all off with the amphitheatre that we had our picnic in the middle of! It's even more stunning in glorious sunshine. Just to say, as it is just down the road from where we eventually settled, it's Badbury Rings not Bradbury as you said a couple of times.
Liked and well and truly subscribed!
Thanks Michael. Much appreciated
Very impressive video , first class presentation, really enjoying the more in depth videos, well done team.Thanks
The new relaxed format paid dividends. A well made and interesting piece,