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Coordinates: 51°38′N 0°18′W / 51.63°N 0.3°W / 51.63; -0.3
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{{Infobox historic site
{{Infobox historic site
|name = Sulloniacis
|name = Sulloniacis
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|coordinates = {{Coord|51.63|-0.3|display=inline,title}}
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'''Sulloniacis''' or '''Sulloniacae''' is the name of a place in [[Roman Britain]] which is known only from an entry in the [[Antonine Itinerary]], a listing of routes and facilities for the [[cursus publicus]], the official courier service of the Roman Empire. ''Iter'' (Itinerary) II of the British section runs between [[Richborough]] (Portus Ritupis) and [[Chester]] (Deva), and this shows Sulloniacis on the road now known as [[Watling Street]], nine Roman miles from St Albans (Verulamium) and 12 from London. Sulloniacis is usually identified with Roman remains found at [[Brockley Hill]] near [[Edgware]] in the [[London Borough of Barnet]].<ref name=Sheldon233>{{cite book|title=Interpreting Roman London|editor1=Bird, Joanna |editor2=Hassall, Mark |editor3=Sheldon |editor4=Harvey|chapter=In Search of Sulloniacis|first=Harvey|last=Sheldon|year=1996|publisher=Oxbow Books|page=233|isbn=1 900188 02 3}}</ref>


⚫
'''Sulloniacis''' or '''Sulloniacae''' was a [[mansio]] on the [[Roman roads in Britannia|Roman road]] known as [[Watling Street]] in [[Roman Britain]]. Its existence is known from only one entry in the ''[[Antonine Itinerary]]'', a listing of routes and facilities for the [[cursus publicus]], the official courier service of the [[Roman Empire]]. ''Sulloniacis'', which is recorded in ''Iter'' II (Itinerary II) for the route that ran between [[Richborough Castle|''Portus Ritupis'']] ([[Richborough]], Kent) and ''[[Deva Victrix]]'' ([[Chester]], Cheshire), was nine [[Mile#Roman mile|Roman miles]] from ''[[Verulamium]]'' ([[St Albans]]) and 12 from ''[[Londinium]]'' ([[London]]). Roman remains found at [[Brockley Hill]] near [[Edgware]] in the [[London Borough of Barnet]] have been identified as those of ''Sulloniacis''.<ref name=Sheldon233>{{cite book|title=Interpreting Roman London|editor1=Bird, Joanna |editor2=Hassall, Mark |editor3=Sheldon |editor4=Harvey|chapter=In Search of Sulloniacis|first=Harvey|last=Sheldon|year=1996|publisher=Oxbow Books|pages=233–241|isbn=1 900188 02 3}}</ref>
==Origin of the name==
⚫
The name may mean 'Estate of the family/descendants of Sullonios', Sullonios being a personal name which is not known from any other source.<ref>A.L.F. Rivet and Colin Smith, ''The place-names of Roman Britain''. London, 1979 (reprinted by Book Club Associates, 1981).</ref> However, it could refer to a geographical feature.<ref name=Sheldon233/>


==Toponym==
==Other possible locations==
⚫
The name may mean 'Estate of the family/descendants of Sullonios', Sullonios being a personal name which is not known from any other source.<ref>{{cite book|author=A.L.F. Rivet and Colin Smith|title=The place-names of Roman Britain|publisher=Book Club Associates|year= 1981}}</ref> However, it could refer to a geographical feature.<ref name=Sheldon233/>
⚫
Archaeologist Harvey Sheldon has challenged the general assumption that the Roman site at Brockley Hill is Sulloniacis. Evidence has been found there of pottery production, but modern excavations have failed to produce any evidence of ''mutationes'' (stations for changing horses) or ''mansiones'' (accommodation for official travellers). Besides, although there are great difficulties in interpreting some of the mileages in the Itineraries, Brockley Hill does seem to be too far to the north. Sheldon suggested several alternative locations, particularly Red Hill, in the vicinity of the Bald Faced Stag in Burnt Oak Broadway. The [[Hendon and District Archaeological Society]] has found Roman remains nearby.<ref>Sheldon, pp. 233-241</ref><ref name="APIT">{{cite book|publisher=Hendon and District Archaeological Society|editor= Pamela Taylor|title=A Place In Time – The London Borough of Barnet up to c. 1500|year= 1989|isbn=0950305065}}</ref>


==Location dispute==
⚫
It is however possible that all the possible locations were within the estate called ''Sulloniacis'', together with a possible Roman occupation site nearby on the hill at [[Hendon]].<ref name="APIT"/>
Research on ''Sulloniacis'' began in 1937. Since then, several small-scale excavations have found well-preserved remains of 14 kilns and workshops, clay extraction pits, puddling holes, wells, preparation floors and large accumulations of kiln waste. Evidence showed it had been occupied since AD 60 with production reaching a peak towards the end of the First Century AD. After pottery production ended around AD 160, it became a domestic settlement until the Fourth Century AD. This settlement being ''Sulloniacis'' mentioned in the Second Century AD ''Antonine Itinerary''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=398293|title=SULLONIACAE|website=www.pastscape.org.uk|accessdate=8 March 2021}}</ref>


⚫
However, senior British archaeologist Harvey Sheldon, a specialist on Roman London from the [[Museum of London]], has challenged the claim that the site found at Brockley Hill is ''Sulloniacis''. Aside from the evidence of pottery production and some domestic buildings, modern excavations have failed to find any remains of ''mutationes'' (stations for changing horses) or ''mansiones'' (accommodation for official travellers). Sheldon suggested several alternative locations, particularly one further south in the vicinity of [[Edgware Road]] in [[Burnt Oak|Burnt Oak Broadway]], a location where the [[Hendon and District Archaeological Society]] has already found Roman remains nearby.<ref name=Sheldon233/><ref name="APIT">{{cite book|publisher=Hendon and District Archaeological Society|editor= Pamela Taylor|title=A Place In Time – The London Borough of Barnet up to c. 1500|year= 1989|isbn=0950305065}}</ref>
==Sulloniacis Pastures==

⚫
'''Sulloniacis Pastures''' is a 4.2 hectare [[Site of Nature Conservation Interest|Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation]], Grade II, located immediately south-east of the Brockley Hill archaeological site at [[british national grid reference system|Grid Ref]] {{gbmappingsmall|TQ176940}}. The site is on grassland which slopes up eastwards from the [[A41 road]]. Located on [[London Clay]], it has many flowers typical of clay pasture, such as [[Lotus pedunculatus|greater bird's-foot-trefoil]] and [[Pimpinella saxifraga|burnet-saxifrage]].<ref name=NCB>{{cite book|title=Nature Conservation in Barnet|first=Jan|last =Hewlett|publisher=London Ecology Unit|year=1997|page=67|isbn=1 871045 27 4|display-authors=etal}}</ref>
⚫
However it is feasible that all these sites were within the boundaries of the estate named ''Sulloniacis'', together with a possible Roman occupation site nearby on the hill at [[Hendon]].<ref name="APIT"/>

==Nature reserve==
⚫
A {{convert|4.2|ha|acre|abbr=on}} [[Site of Nature Conservation Interest|Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation]], Grade II, located immediately south-east of the Brockley Hill archaeological site at [[british national grid reference system|Grid Ref]] {{gbmappingsmall|TQ176940}} has been named Sulloniacis Pastures. The site is on grassland which slopes up eastwards from the [[A41 road]]. Located on [[London Clay]], it has many flowers typical of clay pasture, such as [[Lotus pedunculatus|greater bird's-foot-trefoil]] and [[Pimpinella saxifraga|burnet-saxifrage]].<ref name=NCB>{{cite book|title=Nature Conservation in Barnet|first=Jan|last =Hewlett|publisher=London Ecology Unit|year=1997|page=67|isbn=1 871045 27 4|display-authors=etal}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
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{{Nature reserves in Barnet}}
{{Nature reserves in Barnet}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Roman London]]
[[Category:Roman London]]

Latest revision as of 23:28, 20 January 2024

Sulloniacis
LocationEngland, UK
Coordinates51°38′N 0°18′W / 51.63°N 0.3°W / 51.63; -0.3
OS grid referenceTQ174940
Sulloniacis is located in Greater London
Sulloniacis
Location in Greater London

Sulloniacis or Sulloniacae was a mansio on the Roman road known as Watling Street in Roman Britain. Its existence is known from only one entry in the Antonine Itinerary, a listing of routes and facilities for the cursus publicus, the official courier service of the Roman Empire. Sulloniacis, which is recorded in Iter II (Itinerary II) for the route that ran between Portus Ritupis (Richborough, Kent) and Deva Victrix (Chester, Cheshire), was nine Roman miles from Verulamium (St Albans) and 12 from Londinium (London). Roman remains found at Brockley Hill near Edgware in the London Borough of Barnet have been identified as those of Sulloniacis.[1]

Toponym

[edit]

The name may mean 'Estate of the family/descendants of Sullonios', Sullonios being a personal name which is not known from any other source.[2] However, it could refer to a geographical feature.[1]

Location dispute

[edit]

Research on Sulloniacis began in 1937. Since then, several small-scale excavations have found well-preserved remains of 14 kilns and workshops, clay extraction pits, puddling holes, wells, preparation floors and large accumulations of kiln waste. Evidence showed it had been occupied since AD 60 with production reaching a peak towards the end of the First Century AD. After pottery production ended around AD 160, it became a domestic settlement until the Fourth Century AD. This settlement being Sulloniacis mentioned in the Second Century AD Antonine Itinerary.[3]

However, senior British archaeologist Harvey Sheldon, a specialist on Roman London from the Museum of London, has challenged the claim that the site found at Brockley Hill is Sulloniacis. Aside from the evidence of pottery production and some domestic buildings, modern excavations have failed to find any remains of mutationes (stations for changing horses) or mansiones (accommodation for official travellers). Sheldon suggested several alternative locations, particularly one further south in the vicinity of Edgware Road in Burnt Oak Broadway, a location where the Hendon and District Archaeological Society has already found Roman remains nearby.[1][4]

However it is feasible that all these sites were within the boundaries of the estate named Sulloniacis, together with a possible Roman occupation site nearby on the hill at Hendon.[4]

Nature reserve

[edit]

A 4.2 ha (10 acres) Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation, Grade II, located immediately south-east of the Brockley Hill archaeological site at Grid Ref TQ176940 has been named Sulloniacis Pastures. The site is on grassland which slopes up eastwards from the A41 road. Located on London Clay, it has many flowers typical of clay pasture, such as greater bird's-foot-trefoil and burnet-saxifrage.[5]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Sheldon, Harvey (1996). "In Search of Sulloniacis". In Bird, Joanna; Hassall, Mark; Sheldon; Harvey (eds.). Interpreting Roman London. Oxbow Books. pp. 233–241. ISBN 1 900188 02 3.
  2. ^ A.L.F. Rivet and Colin Smith (1981). The place-names of Roman Britain. Book Club Associates.
  3. ^ "SULLONIACAE". www.pastscape.org.uk. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b Pamela Taylor, ed. (1989). A Place In Time – The London Borough of Barnet up to c. 1500. Hendon and District Archaeological Society. ISBN 0950305065.
  5. ^ Hewlett, Jan; et al. (1997). Nature Conservation in Barnet. London Ecology Unit. p. 67. ISBN 1 871045 27 4.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Applebaum, Shimon (1951). Sulloniacae, 1950: Excavations at Brockley Hill. Transactions of the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society. Bishopsgate Institute.
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