Burngreave Frontline
Roman Times?

Research: Ian Clifford, Steve Cooke

"Queen Cartimandua, ruler of the Brigantes, had the power and influence that belongs to high birth. Her reputation grew when she captured King Caracatacus by treachery - another feather in the cap for that triumphant Claudius Caeser. From this came her wealth and the wanton spirit which success breeds. She grew to despise her husband Venutius and took his personal servant Vellocatus as her lover and to share the throne. Her clan was shaken by the terrible scandal. The citizens sided with her husband, but the adulterer was supported by the queen's passion for him and by her savage spirit.

So when Venutius called in help from outside, just as the Brigantes were in revolt, Cartimandua was put in an extremely dangerous position. It took several battles before the Roman cavalry and infantry companies finally succeeded in rescuing the Queen from danger. The throne was left to Venutius; the war to us."

Histories of Tacitus, Book III, XLV,
new translation from latin for the Messenger:Amanda Gibson

We should perhaps be a bit cautious with the words of Tacitus - he was after all the historian for the winning side. He was clearly somewhat shocked by the warmaking and amorous antics of the Celtic warrior queens like Cartimandua, as is also shown by his references to Boudicca, the Celtic Queen who gave the Romans such trouble the year 60 C.E.

Cartimandua - Matriarch or Traitor?

The Brigantes name shows they were the "people of Bridget" - a goddess cult popular with Celts from Cornwall to Orkney. It has been suggested that Cartimandua was part of a female royal line who chose temporary partners who played the role of King, but were then sacrificed at which point another partner was taken on.

Clearly having the Roman empire on the doorstep had produced tensions in the tribe. Cartimandua's betrayal of the Welsh Celtic leader Caracatacus won't have endeared her, and in this context any suggestion that a war-leader like Venutius be sacrificed would have been less than popular.

Either way though, it seems that some combination of Cartimandua's deals with the Romans and Venutius' war strategy kept the Romans out of most of what is now Yorkshire for over 20 years.

Roman Fort

It is thought almost certain that the Roman fort at Templeborough dates from this period where the Brigantes stalled the Romans. It seems likely therefore that they were somehow connected with the Brigantian politics referred to by Tacitus. The fort is now under the Templeborough Steel Works the other side of Meadowhall.

Roman Ridge

More difficult to date is the Roman Rig or Ridge - a bank that runs from Pitsmoor to Mexborough. Little of this now remains in Pitsmoor, though it is thought to have run from Close to the Wicker, up and along Grimesthorpe Road, where it was still possible to trace in the 1930s. The Ridge then ran below the Cetic fort on Wincobank, through Wincobank, where it is still visible, then away through the Meadowhall roundabout to Rotherham. The sections from Rotherham to Mexborough go through undeveloped countryside and can be walked today.

Brigantian Defence

There is not enough evidence to know for certain the reason the Ridge was built but its position in the geography strongly suggests a defensive purpose. The hillfort at Wincobank may have been an outer defence of the Brigantian base at Almondbury. Mexborough would also have provided a good point to defend as it would have been mostly surrounded by marshland. The camp at Roe Wood may have formed part of such a defensive structure.

Frontline

Did the Ridge form the front line between the Brigantes of Cartimandua and Venutius and the Romans based at Templeborough? It may have been built earlier to defend against another Celtic tribe - the Belgae. It seems certain however that Burngreave was close to the heart of the conflict brought about by the Roman Invasion.