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In
the picture we see part of the City’s Roman Wall defences. But would you be able
to say where this particular section stands? Where in the City did the Romans
first settled and founded Londinium?
This is a fascinating walk, as most people walk around the City of London without realising on what buried treasures they are stepping on - and I mean more than mere artefacts!
The
walk traces Roman and Saxon London and how and where it first came about. We
start at the Museum of London and step quickly into the Roman Fort area, as we
allow our imagination to come to life. There are also plenty of Roman sites to
see along our path, as we come across some of the most important Roman and Saxon
sites in London - the Fort, Amphitheatre, No 1 Poultry, Cheapside, the Walbrook
river and its religious significance to the Romans with the Temple of Mithras
nearby.
We follow the route of the Walbrook down to Cannon Street to look at the London Stone and where the Procurator’s Palace was situated. Along the route the Saxon Lundenburg also comes to life as we take a closer look at their way of life, their clothes, their food, at where they traded – what does “Cheap” mean and why an East and a West “Cheap” in Saxon times? Where would their place of Government in the City have been? Did one of their kings have a Palace here? We take a closer look at Aldermanbury and then at Guildhall. No.1 Poultry was used by both the Romans and the Saxons. Why is this such an important site in the City?
After
having a relaxed lunch at Weatherspoon´s Crosskeys Pub in Gracechurch street, we
continue down Leadenhall Market, today a beautiful Victorian building, and a
very important market, but its ancient beginnings are far greater than most
people would imagine. When I see some tourists just glancing around quickly at
the Victorian architecture, I often wonder “if only they knew what was below
their feet”! The walk continues to the Roman Wall by the Tower of London and
finishes at the Saxon church of All Hallows-by-the-Tower – open to visitors,
where, I usually say goodbye to my group and you then explore this very
important church at your leisure.