DUROLITUM: Did Romans really settle in Chigwell way over a thousand years ago?
Neil Patel with Hannah Chowdhry as they search for Durolitum
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Chigwell has only been a modern day Parish since 1996, although an earlier Chigwell civil parish was part of Epping Rural District from 1894 to 1933. However, despite the very rural setting in which our famous Parish resides, we have a very early and distinct history. Chigwell contains some sites of significant historical importance. Including some very early settlements that will surprise many of you no doubt, which includes Romans and later Saxons. These settlements would have began hear because of the River Roding and the many other water sources that have existed here from longevity. One of them may 'well' be (excuse the pun) the origin of the name of our location.
CRRA have already traced the historic location of a Ching Well or Chig Well to land adjacent to Wells Park School, or to the rear of the school itself (click here). Since our article local historian and Editor of the Ilford Historical Society Newsletter, Georgina Green, has told CRRA, the well would be in Chigwell Row not Redbridge, despite an erroneous geographical placement on Wikipedia. Wiki stated:
"The land registration map of Redbridge Council shows "Chig Well (site of)" as being located to the rear of the house located at 67 Brocket Way, Chigwell."
Whereas local historian Georgina Green, said:
"I have a photocopy of the 2nd edition 6in OS map (1898) which shows the site of Cing Well south of Vicarage Lane, and see attached as Chig Well more recently.
It's still shown on Streetmap.co.uk as north of Brocket Way, west of Tylney Close. The Redbridge boundary is just to the south."
1898 shows Chig Well (site of) justifying our belief that early history attributes the well to Cicca as opposed to a King without any use of the letter 'n' that appeared in the description as Cing Well in the 1928 map shown in our earlier posting (click here)
The current OS map still shows the site of Chig Well.
The Manager of Redbridge Museum, Gerard Green, wrote in an email to our Chairman Wilson Chowdhry:
"Earlier maps may be no more detailed I'm afraid. Where it's listed as a site of antiquity on an OS map, information can often be sketchy and impossible to pin down, as historic names often are.
"We may have some antiquarian books from the 19th century which provide their own theories but I can't access those during the current lockdown.
"If anything comes to light, I will let you know."
Primarily it suggest that Chigwell had an existing settlement that could date back to the late 4th Century especially as Essex was one of the first entry points to Britain by the Angles, Saxons and Jutes (click here). More importantly such attribution suggest that early settlements in Chigwell drew water from the life-sustaining Chig Well. This is hard to comprehend when you consider the evergreen feel of Chigwell Row, still with few houses sustaining a very village lifestyle, with beautiful country roads and surrounded by aesthetically pleasing nature. However, this historical bombshell is supported in part by some sparse knowledge of a Roman settlement that existed within our ancient realm.
Durolitum is a name known little by the current residents of Chigwell. CRRA has been surprised by the lack of awareness of the roman settlement that was once known as Durolitum. Romans of the time endearingly named the settlement Little London, for which the only remaining reference is a few eponymously named cottages along Gravel Lane. Little London Cottages are around 500m away from the site of where the roman remains that gave name to their cottages was excavated, though we doubt many of the current users are aware of the titular history for their homes.
Neil Patel a passionate community stalwart and member of CRRA joined Hannah Chowdhry and Wilson Chowdhry as they searched for evidence of our Roman history. This was always going to be a hard task because references for the site which has been excavated three times and then covered over to preserve it, are limited and few and far between.
On Friday night the three amateur historians planned their trip by scrawling through the internet to find any information that could help them reach their roman destination. Only one site has any real information and that was PastScape. They derive their information from the National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) which holds records on the architectural and archaeological heritage of England. You can read more (here)
The settlement of Durolitum once had a Roman bath house and hypocaust. The bath house consisted of a latrine and Frigidarium (cold room) with attached plunge pool to the north, a Tepidarium (warm room) further south and a Caldarium (hot room) to the west with adjoining plunge pool and hypocaust.
the Roman settlement would have been built in the about the 2nd century AD and demolished by at least the 4th century AD. A substantial circular flint built structure, possibly dated to the late 4th century, and timber-lined wells were also located at Little London. Suggesting that early Britons would have carried on living at the settlement and further Saxon finds reify our belief that early Anglo-Saxons lived here.
A number of important finds have been retrieved from the many previous excavations, including: A tessellated pavement, urned cremations, a Roman wood lead-lined coffin, 46 burials (mainly cremations but also one child inhumation), more than 84 coins, a meat cleaver, Roman shoe, Roman jewellery, animal bones and a large amount of pottery.
Despite several excavations of Durolitum, many in the 18th century and then more detailed 20th Century excavations between 1972 and 1981, and 1990 by F. R. Clark, and the findings published in 1998. None of the excavation is now visible.
"Wilson Chowdhry, said:
"What point is there for archaeological excavations, if no marker point and information panel preserves the history for future generations?"
When Neil, Wilson and Hannah arrived near the site, they were surprised that there are no signs or references to the Roman site. Following an electronic map with a flag maintained on the Pastscape site they entered a private grassy field and found where they believe the excavations would have taken place.
Varying opinions of the location of Duralitum took place, however on closer inspection of the map and due to the manner in which ancient bush had been removed led to an agreed location between the three CRRA members. We are hoping to one day raise funds to place an information sign near the location to illustrate the ancient history of our area. One that would refer to the Roman and Saxon heritage of early settlements.
Hannah Chowdhry, said:
"The trip to Durolitum was both exciting and disappointing.
"We are pretty sure we have found the location of the lost Roman settlement but horrified that there is no marker point or information, anywhere in the locality.
"To have stood at the location where over a 1000 years ago an early settlement of people existed is pretty amazing.
"However, I hope local Chigwell people become inspired about our account and begin challenging for more recognition of this important site."
CRRA will be adding a local historical account to our blog every week.
Our thanks to Richard Joynson a metal detectorist and local historian. You can learn about his many finds of treasure in Chigwell (here). He has not detected at this site.
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