Roman period: Roman roads and the Brentford Ford

When it comes to the Roman and early medieval periods, the range of surviving evidence for human activity in Richmond and Kew begins to expand.

For instance, the Roman road network appears to indicate that Kew’s Thames-side location was important. The Roman road between Silchester and London ran several miles north of the Thames and connected with the river only at the posting stations at Brentford and Staines.

As Kew is located beside Brentford Ford - the furthest point downstream at which people could regularly cross the Thames on foot - it is likely that the presence of the posting station and the Roman road at Brentford would have had a significant influence on the Kew area.

Veni, vidi, vici at Kew? There is a widespread belief that Caesar crossed the Thames here, claiming the Roman Invasion of Britain. No absolute evidence to confirm or refute this suggestion has ever been found. However, this strategically, economically and socially important Brentford crossing ensured the continued relevance of the Kew area throughout the Roman and Early Medieval periods.

Later in history, Brentford Ford was the location of the important defeat of the Danes by Edward Ironside in 1016.

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