Discover invasion and settlement: in detail
at 10 Gresham Street

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View of the first phase of excavations at 10 Gresham Street. The modern building is being taken down over the archaeologist's heads.

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Map of Londinium

What did they find?

The site lay towards the western edge of Londinium. Archaeologists found evidence of up to 11 Romano-British roundhouses dating from about AD50-70. There is evidence that the people who lived here were making glass in a British style but using Roman materials. At this time the first Roman-style buildings were being built closer to the river.

By the early 2nd century the area looked remarkably different. Two Roman roads crossed the site, one leading north towards the fort and the other running east-west. Archaeologists found timber and mud brick buildings along the north-south road. One of them had a fine mosaic floor and painted plaster on the walls.

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Glass maker at work, artist's reconstruction (Derek Lucas)

What does the evidence mean?

In Londinium's early years there may have been a distinctly 'British' area on the outside of the new Roman settlement. However this was quickly swept away and replaced with the expanding Roman street pattern and Roman style buildings. We can only speculate about what may have happened to the Britons who lived here.