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Calling all armchair generals! Boudica's Last Stand.
(03-06-2021, 04:08 PM)Nathan Ross Wrote:
(03-06-2021, 03:42 PM)Theoderic Wrote: I think that SP would have gone up the Gade Valley as it is the shortest route from St Albans.

The only Roman roads that we know existed at the time were Akeman and Watling, both leading to major troop concentrations - Akeman to Alcester and Cirencester/Gloucester, and Watling to Wroxeter. Paulinus would surely have taken one or other of these roads, I would think, rather than chancing a minor track or valley route in between. He would have needed to stay on the main military roads if he wanted to be reinforced, or to fall back on a fortified position.


(03-06-2021, 03:42 PM)Theoderic Wrote: From pictures of the early 1900s it would appear that trees grew all through the valley around Aldbury

Could you share the pictures? They sound useful. The only reference I could find was this elderly archaeological paper, mainly concerning prehistoric earthworks.

It does contain this plan though, which is quite interesting, showing woodland around Aldbury Nowers, the Stocks (where the golf course is now) and the Coombe. I would imagine the Britons advancing from the lower left, through Barley End, to a battle site between Pitstone Hill and Clipper Down - the Roman position being just southwest of the place called (evocatively, although sadly not originally!) 'The Citadel'.



The end result would look a bit like this, maybe:

Nathan wrote:

Could you share the pictures? They sound useful. The only reference I could find was this elderly archaeological paper, mainly concerning prehistoric earthworks.

Of course - please see attached


.pdf   ALDBURY 3.pdf (Size: 443.95 KB / Downloads: 4)


.pdf   ALDBURY 2.pdf (Size: 365.2 KB / Downloads: 4)


.pdf   ALDBURY 1.pdf (Size: 475.12 KB / Downloads: 4)


Nathan wrote:

I would imagine the Britons advancing from the lower left, through Barley End, to a battle site between Pitstone Hill and Clipper Down - the Roman position being just southwest of the place called (evocatively, although sadly not originally!) 'The Citadel'.

In many ways I can see exactly why you think that and although it ticks some of the boxes I have concerns with being exposed with the backs of the Roman position to the North.


.pdf   PITSTONE HILL 8.pdf (Size: 58.83 KB / Downloads: 3)

.pdf   PITSTONE HILL 7.pdf (Size: 216.58 KB / Downloads: 3)

.pdf   PITSTONE HILL 6.pdf (Size: 303.49 KB / Downloads: 2)

.pdf   PITSTONE HILL 5.pdf (Size: 530.05 KB / Downloads: 2)

.pdf   PITSTONE HILL 4 .pdf (Size: 563.84 KB / Downloads: 2)

.pdf   PITSTONE HILL 3.pdf (Size: 110.38 KB / Downloads: 2)

.pdf   PITSTONE HILL 1 .pdf (Size: 613.28 KB / Downloads: 4)

(03-06-2021, 04:40 PM)Renatus Wrote:
(03-06-2021, 01:55 PM)Theoderic Wrote: no site appears to have two separate defiles approaching the battleground.

So what?  Why do we need two  defiles?

Hi Michael

The text state that the Roman line shelters in a defile at the beginning of the battle but also that the opposing army came through a defile or narrow access to get to the battle site.


Attached Files
.pdf   ALDBURY 3.pdf (Size: 443.95 KB / Downloads: 1)
.pdf   ALDBURY 2.pdf (Size: 365.2 KB / Downloads: 1)
.pdf   ALDBURY 1.pdf (Size: 475.12 KB / Downloads: 4)
Deryk
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Messages In This Thread
Re: Calling all armchair generals! - by Ensifer - 03-11-2010, 03:13 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 02-18-2012, 06:26 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 02-19-2012, 12:02 AM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 02-19-2012, 02:50 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 02-19-2012, 05:40 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 02-19-2012, 11:26 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-24-2012, 05:11 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-24-2012, 09:42 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-24-2012, 10:10 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-25-2012, 03:11 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-25-2012, 03:25 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-25-2012, 08:36 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-26-2012, 02:57 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 04-27-2012, 01:50 PM
Re: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by Steve Kaye - 08-05-2012, 02:24 PM
Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by antiochus - 11-07-2014, 02:18 PM
Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by antiochus - 11-08-2014, 01:50 AM
Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by antiochus - 11-11-2014, 02:03 AM
Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by antiochus - 11-18-2014, 07:54 AM
Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by antiochus - 11-20-2014, 02:37 AM
Calling all armchair generals! Boudica\'s Last Stand. - by antiochus - 11-25-2014, 08:29 AM
RE: Calling all armchair generals! Boudica's Last Stand. - by Theoderic - 03-06-2021, 05:40 PM

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