Bannaventa: Difference between revisions

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*[[Tripontium]] = Cave's Inn, [[Warwickshire]]
*[[Tripontium]] = Cave's Inn, [[Warwickshire]]
*Magiovinter = Dropshort, [[Buckinghamshire]]
*Magiovinter = Dropshort, [[Buckinghamshire]]
==Description==
Bannaventa was a posting station for roman [[travelers]] and would have operated along the lines of the [[Coaching inn|Coaching towns]] of a later period along Watling street. The town would have been a vital part of the road[[ infrastructure]] of [[Roman Britain]]. The Fortified town would provide a safe, warm resting place where [[provisions]] for the journey could be purchased and [[horse]]s and other [[livestock]] could be safely [[stable]]d overnight. The town would also provide some protection for the wider population in the vicinity in times of danger. In close proximity of the town there are several other Roman sites which are connected with Bannaventa. These include the remains of a [[Roman villa|villa]] on the summit of near-by [[Borough Hill]]<ref>Borough Hill (Daventry) and its History by William Edgar, Page 39 ASIN: B001075ZNY</ref>, another smaller settlement between Thrupp lodge and Thrupp Grounds (SP 599651) <ref>An Inventory of Archaeological Sites in North West Northamptonshire, Page 154, Fig 118. ISBN 0 11 700900 8</ref> and various other small [[homestead]]s have been located at grid references SP613638, SP608649 and another [[Roman villa|roman villa]] at SP605649<ref>An Inventory of Archaeological Sites in North West Northamptonshire, Page 153, Fig 116. ISBN 0 11 700900 8</ref>.




The settlement was enclosed by a defensive ditch and wall, and probably served as a ''Mutatio'' (relay station) where horses could be changed for travellers upon the Roman road. The site was discovered and excavated in the [[1970s]]. The enclosed area covered some 13.5 acres (55,000&nbsp;m²) and probably contained wooden buildings.
The settlement was enclosed by a defensive ditch and wall, The site was discovered and excavated in the [[1970s]]. The enclosed area covered some 13.5 acres (55,000&nbsp;m²) and probably contained wooden buildings.
==Saint Patrick connection==

It is possible that Bannaventa was the birthplace of [[Saint Patrick]] the patron saint of [[Ireland]]. In his ''confessio'' he said that he had been born in a settlement in England called ''banavem taburniae'' which could possibly be an alternative name for Bannaventa. In around [[405]] AD when he was aged 16 he was kidnapped by "pirates" who were raiding the imperial highways, and taken to Ireland as a [[slavery|slave]]. This view is backed by the fact that the Watling Street ran indirectly to north [[Wales]] and thus offered easy passage to Ireland.
It is possible that Bannaventa was the birthplace of [[Saint Patrick]] the patron saint of [[Ireland]]<ref>Borough Hill (Daventry) and its History by William Edgar, Page 57, Quotes opinion of Professor Haverfield, Victoria County History ASIN: B001075ZNY</ref> . In his ''confessio'' he said that he had been born in a settlement in England called ''banavem taburniae'' which could possibly be an alternative name for Bannaventa. In around [[405]] AD when he was aged 16 he was kidnapped by "pirates" who were raiding the imperial highways, and taken to Ireland as a [[slavery|slave]]. This view is backed by the fact that the Watling Street ran indirectly to north [[Wales]] and thus offered easy passage to Ireland.


It may also have been the place of death of the great [[Welsh people|Welsh]] [[saint]], [[Cadoc]], around [[580]]. He was murdered by invading [[Anglo-Saxons]] at the [[cathedral]] of ''Beneventum''.
It may also have been the place of death of the great [[Welsh people|Welsh]] [[saint]], [[Cadoc]], around [[580]]. He was murdered by invading [[Anglo-Saxons]] at the [[cathedral]] of ''Beneventum''.

Revision as of 01:06, 25 January 2008

Map locating the settlement of Bannaventa

Bannaventa was a Romano British Fortified Town[1] which was situated on the roman road of Watling Street, which today is known as the A5 trunk road. Bannaventa is 1.3 north east of the village of Norton in the english county of Northamptonshire. The Ordnance survey grid reference for the centre of the town is SP612645[2].

Iter II (Watling Street)

The road where Bannaventa was located is thought to be the first road constructed by the Romans in Britain. It begins in Portus Ritupis (now Richborough) in the county of Kent and runs in a north westerly direction linking many roman settlements and towns along its route. At Viroconium (now Wroxeter in Shropshire), the road branched with one route going to Deva Victrix (now Chester) and the other into Wales. Bannaventa was a small fortified town on the this road and was 10.9 miles north west of the roman town of Lactodorum (now Towcester).17.3 miles to the north west was the roman settlement of Venonis (now Wigston Parva) were Watling street is intersected by the Fosse Way.

Name

The meaning of the name Bannaventa is from “The Market on the spur of the Land” [3]. mention of the settlement can be found in Emperor Antoninus Pias’s Itinerarium, Iter Britanniarum (The Road Routes of Antoninus Augustus) [4]. The extracts are as follows:

  • Iter 2, Venone XII, Benaventa XVII, Lactodorum XII.
  • Iter 6, Lactodorum XVI, Isannavaria XII, Tripontium XII.
  • Iter 8, Venone XII, Benaventa XVIII, Magiovinter XXVIII.

The translation of these place names are as follows although Isannavantia is assumed to be Bannaventa.

Description

Bannaventa was a posting station for roman travelers and would have operated along the lines of the Coaching towns of a later period along Watling street. The town would have been a vital part of the roadinfrastructure of Roman Britain. The Fortified town would provide a safe, warm resting place where provisions for the journey could be purchased and horses and other livestock could be safely stabled overnight. The town would also provide some protection for the wider population in the vicinity in times of danger. In close proximity of the town there are several other Roman sites which are connected with Bannaventa. These include the remains of a villa on the summit of near-by Borough Hill[5], another smaller settlement between Thrupp lodge and Thrupp Grounds (SP 599651) [6] and various other small homesteads have been located at grid references SP613638, SP608649 and another roman villa at SP605649[7].


The settlement was enclosed by a defensive ditch and wall, The site was discovered and excavated in the 1970s. The enclosed area covered some 13.5 acres (55,000 m²) and probably contained wooden buildings.

Saint Patrick connection

It is possible that Bannaventa was the birthplace of Saint Patrick the patron saint of Ireland[8] . In his confessio he said that he had been born in a settlement in England called banavem taburniae which could possibly be an alternative name for Bannaventa. In around 405 AD when he was aged 16 he was kidnapped by "pirates" who were raiding the imperial highways, and taken to Ireland as a slave. This view is backed by the fact that the Watling Street ran indirectly to north Wales and thus offered easy passage to Ireland.

It may also have been the place of death of the great Welsh saint, Cadoc, around 580. He was murdered by invading Anglo-Saxons at the cathedral of Beneventum.

References

  1. ^ [1] Description and name given. roman-britain.org
  2. ^ ’OS’ Explorer Map, Rugby & Daventry 222, ISBN 978 0 319 23734 2
  3. ^ ’ Early Daventry’ by A E Brown, ISBN 0 901507 44 X
  4. ^ Borough Hill (Daventry) and its History by William Edgar, Page 53 ASIN: B001075ZNY
  5. ^ Borough Hill (Daventry) and its History by William Edgar, Page 39 ASIN: B001075ZNY
  6. ^ An Inventory of Archaeological Sites in North West Northamptonshire, Page 154, Fig 118. ISBN 0 11 700900 8
  7. ^ An Inventory of Archaeological Sites in North West Northamptonshire, Page 153, Fig 116. ISBN 0 11 700900 8
  8. ^ Borough Hill (Daventry) and its History by William Edgar, Page 57, Quotes opinion of Professor Haverfield, Victoria County History ASIN: B001075ZNY
  • Tripontium, by Jack Lucas FSA (1997) ISBN 0-9531265-0-1

External links

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