03-06-2021, 03:42 PM
Nathan Wrote:
If the area of tree growth was the way I think (woods on the north-west slopes of the Chilterns) then the Britons would be advancing through the woods to get to the Romans. And they'd need to have already circled around behind Paulinus in some way to attack from the opposite direction to their advance (presumably) from St Albans. But all these things are possible
I think that SP would have gone up the Gade Valley as it is the shortest route from St Albans. In which case the Brythons would have followed him and not have taken the longer route from St Albans up Akeman Street.
In that case they wouldn't have come from the Aldbury end of the valley.
From pictures of the early 1900s it would appear that trees grew all through the valley around Aldbury so at least the conditions for tree growth were there.
According to the Viatores there were Roman roads along the Gade Valley to Ivinghoe Beacon and beyond but not necessarily military ones, and they may not have been there at that time but built later.
As you say anything is possible but I certainly like this as a site as it doesn't rely on the random siting of the wagons to create a blockage to allow the slaughter, which was just an unexpected bonus as far as the Romans were concerned.
If the area of tree growth was the way I think (woods on the north-west slopes of the Chilterns) then the Britons would be advancing through the woods to get to the Romans. And they'd need to have already circled around behind Paulinus in some way to attack from the opposite direction to their advance (presumably) from St Albans. But all these things are possible
I think that SP would have gone up the Gade Valley as it is the shortest route from St Albans. In which case the Brythons would have followed him and not have taken the longer route from St Albans up Akeman Street.
In that case they wouldn't have come from the Aldbury end of the valley.
From pictures of the early 1900s it would appear that trees grew all through the valley around Aldbury so at least the conditions for tree growth were there.
According to the Viatores there were Roman roads along the Gade Valley to Ivinghoe Beacon and beyond but not necessarily military ones, and they may not have been there at that time but built later.
As you say anything is possible but I certainly like this as a site as it doesn't rely on the random siting of the wagons to create a blockage to allow the slaughter, which was just an unexpected bonus as far as the Romans were concerned.
Deryk
