How did Staffordshire become Roman?

                                     A Roman street scene (illustration by Roy Fern)

The roman army marched into Staffordshire 3 years after the invasion of AD43. Staffordshire was then a region of dense forests and bleak moorlands with a scattered population along the fertile river valleys.

The local tribes were soon brought under roman control. Across Britain a series of forts and roads were constructed to help them maintain their dominance over the British peoples.

Settlements grew up close to forts which later developed into towns, built on a regular grid plan. In Staffordshire Rocester, Chesterton, Wall and Penkridge all developed close to military forts.

Agriculture flourished under Roman organisation. wealthy farm estates emerged, each with a Roman-style farmhouse or 'villa' at its centre, although most still lived very simply in villages. Industry also developed with pottery-making, lead and silver mining and coal extraction flourishing locally.

The Romans stayed in Britain for about 400 years, until attacks on the Roman empire from barbarian tribes became so fierce that the roman government was compelled to withdraw its troops. The government of Britain collapsed soon after the Roman withdrawal.