The Romans at Burgodunum
Adel, Leeds, England
There
is a Roman Fort and Villa at Adel off Eccup Lane (see picture). Not
much can be seen above the surface. This was on a Roman road from
York to Ilkley and beyond. Ralph Thoresby, a local 18th
Century historian had knowledge of the fort and villa and in his
diary marked 14th
August 1702 suggests possible Roman names for Adel. A number of
Romano-British period inscribed stones have been found in Adel as
well as two altar-stones dedicated to different deities, now in Leeds
City Museum. The Brigantes were Celts who lived in ancient Briton and
inhabited Brigantia, what we know as Yorkshire today. Like the Iceni
tribe who had the famous Queen Boudica, the Brigantes had Cartimandua
who was a first-century Queen who ruled circa 43 to 69AD. Boudicca
and Cartimandua were powerful figures in their own right but with
very different policies. Boudicca rebelled against Rome and sacked
three towns, Camulodunum (modern Colchester), Londinium (modern
London) and Verulamium (modern St Albans) whereas Cartimandua allied
herself more with Rome. At the time of the Claudian invasion in 43AD,
Cartimandua might have been in charge of the Brigantes. On the lost
Arch of Claudius an inscription mentioned eleven British rulers
including Cartimandu who surrendered without a fight, this, in turn,
making the Brigantes a client kingdom of Rome. The Brigantes were the
largest tribe in Britain.
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Roman Yorkshire: People, Culture and Landscape
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