The arrival of the Romans in Castleford
The Roman Conquest in southern Britain
The Romans conquered southern Britain in AD 43, but they did not immediately try to invade the north of Britain. It took some time to establish control of the south-east. They suffered a disaster in AD 60 when Boudicca, Queen of the Iceni tribe, led a revolt against them.
The Romans move into northern Britain
The Queen of the Brigantes, Cartimandua, at first had a policy of becoming an ally of the Romans, rather than opposing them. In the end her own people, led by her ex-husband, revolted against her. This became the excuse for the Romans to move in and take control. Petillius Cerialis, Roman governor of Britain, conquered almost the whole of the north of England from AD 71-4.
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1. The fort at Castleford was an important staging post for the conquest of the north of England. The road from Doncaster through Castleford to York was one of two main roads to the north built by the Romans.
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2. ‘C IIII G’ which is shorthand for the Fourth Cohort of Gauls. This unit was stationed at Castleford to guard the road and the river crossing.
What did the Romans call Castleford?
The earliest historic documents indicate that the Roman name for Castleford was either Legeolium or Lagecium. However, Roman Castleford is more often referred to as Lagentium – a name which was first recorded some 300 years after the Romans left Britain. Lagentium is thought to mean ‘Place of the Swordsmen’.
Timeline:
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