Bannaventa
Attested: Bannaventa on iter 2, Isannavantia on iter 6 , and Bannavanto on iter 8 of the Antonine Itinerary
Where: Roman settlement at Whilton Lodge, at SP611645, acting like a modern motorway service station on Watling Street. This area is the central watershed of England, with the river Nene flowing east to The Wash and the North Sea, and the river Leam flowing west towards the Warwickshire Avon and the Severn estuary, although the local hydrology has been altered by the Grand Union Canal.
Name origin: See here about Bann- meaning something like ‘prominent, sticking out’ and here about Venta meaning something like ‘valley bottom, low ground liable to seasonal flooding’. Other places with analogous ancient names include Vindobona (Vienna, Austria) and Πεννοουινδος (Pavant, France).
Notes: Nearby are a Roman villa and barrow cemetery on Borough Hill plus Daventry hill-fort, plus sitting in a classic position to control a major prehistoric trade route, from metal-rich south western Britain towards metal-hungry and amber-rich Scandinavia. A strong candidate for the site of Boudicca’s last battle is 7 km away, at Church Stowe, SP624575, while 2 km away around SP63046529 lies a possible Roman camp.
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Last edited 9 April 2022 To main Menu