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Pre-Roman Mersea

Although Mersea has been inhabited since around 3000 BC, I'm going to start this potted history with the Celts, who were the first people to leave any substantial trace of their tenure. The Celts first arrived in Britain circa 400 BC. Once Social development progressed to the point where communities were able to specialise in their activities the natural features of the Island afforded the islanders the means to produce Ceramics, and Salt on a commercial scale. Evidence of the Salt-panning still exists today, and evidence of large quantities of broken pots can still be found at the sites where Pottery was made. In the first Century BC another wave of Celts crossed over from the Continent (the Belgae).

Their arrival, led to Rome taking a more pronounced interest in Britain. Julius Ceasar made two incursions in Britain in 55 & 53 BC, but it was not until the time of the Emporer Claudius that the Romans made any real attempt to establish a permanent presence. At the time of the start of the invasion (43 AD) the powerful belgic Catevellauni tribe dominated many of the Tribes in the South East of Britain, including the Trinovantes who inhabited the Colchester and Mersea areas. The Catevellauni established their capital by the river Colne, calling it Camulodunum - the hill-fort for their war god Camulos. The site was chosen, presumably, because of the natural defence produced by the geography of the area. A steep hill, the river running to the North and East with the addition of massive earthworks elsewhere made this a formidable defensive position. Many Roman writers comment favourably on the Fortress later.

Using a dynastic feud as the pretext for their intervention - and following a brief, bloody campaign, the South-East of Britain was brought under Roman control. Claudius himself came over to Britain to accept the submission of the Tribal Chieftains. The event is commemorated on a stone, which can still be seen today in Rome. The Romans set up a Colony on land at Camulodunum and called it Colonia Claudia, in honour of their Emporer. The Colony was built to the typical Roman civic model. This area forms the heart of modern Colchester. Colonia Claudia was the Roman Capital of Britain until is was abandoned in favour of London due to it's more favourable location. The Romans established a presence on Mersea early, building a road link. The route of which is not much different to that of today's. This greatly improved communications to the Island. During this time it's highly likely that Kings Hardwas used as a landing place by ships. There's evidence of a road going to the Hard, so it would seem the Romans made use of the Anchorage to a fair degree.

The Iceni Rebellion

In 61 AD The Roman settlers received a major blow when the Iceni, who inhabited the northern part of what is now known as East Anglia rose in revolt. Their Queen was called Boudicca. The Trinovantes and other tribes joined with the Iceni in revolt under the leadership of Boudicca. The Colony (Colonia Claudia) was captured and sacked. The victorious Britons slaughtered the Roman colonists and Romanised British inhabitants. It took the Romans some time to defeat Boudicca and in the interval Boudicca pillaged London (Londinium) and St Albans (Verulamium).Eventually Boudicca was defeated following the arrival of massive reinforcements from Wales. Although still heavily outnumbered, superior Roman tactics won the decisive battle. Tacitus tells us that the cause of the revolt was, at least in part, due to the treatment the indigenous Tribes received at the hands of the Roman invaders. Following the successful suppression of the revolt the Romans adopted a less overbearing manner in their dealings with the Tribes.

Mersea Under Roman Rule

Mersea then settled down to a long period of peace, apparently attracting wealthy Roman visitors. In the Area where St Peters Church and Mersea Hall now stand, there was a Roman villa. Several good examples of mosaic were found during an excavation conducted by the Essex Archaelogical Society in 1898, as well as the foundations of the villa. The Mosaic floors were re-buried after they had been recorded in order to preserve them for future generations. In the four Hundred years that Roman rule lasted the people of Mersea became, like much of the South East of Britain, totally assimilated into the Roman Empire.