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As a result of those connections, the Atrebates had created
positive relations with the Romans in France prior to any
invasion of Britain, so when the invasion began from their landing
point in Kent, led by Vespasian's 2nd Legion (Vespasian
went on to become a Roman Emperor) they met with no opposition,
and so therefore there are no Roman Battlefields in this area,
until they met with the Celtic Tribe of Dorset, the Durotriges. After the Roman Conquest,
the Atrebate territory was divided into three separate lesser
areas, each with it's own Tribal capital, at Silchester (Calleva
Atrebatum), Winchester, and Chichester.
The reason for the
invasions and occupancy was due to the immense amount of iron
and tin which were extremely important to the Romans. In smaller
quantities there was gold and silver available. Easily available
grain, wool and livestock also helped make Britain attractive
for the Romans.
There was very little Roman activity in
the area now known as Church Crookham, probably due to
the poor soil quality for sustaining crops, but within
the surrounding area there are the ruins of a once
substantial villa in Crondall ( Nat. Grid Ref. SU7947), evidence of a Roman pottery
industry and more villa ruins in Farnham. The Romans had completely
withdrawn from Britain by 410 A.D.
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