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Roman Field System at Ripe/Chalvington
Look closely at the lanes and field boundaries surrounding the villages of Ripe and Chalvington and you will notice a rectangular grid bounded by Langtye Lane to the south, Cleavers Bridge Lane/Darp Lane to the west, Sheepcote Lane to the east, and a series of field boundaries to the north. This is a planned landscape initially believed to be the work of the Romans and resembling the system known as Centuriation found in many areas of Italy and North Africa.
However, evidence is now pointing to an origin earlier than the invasions most likely created by the Atrebates tribe based around Chichester who had pre-invasion links with the continent and became client kings and allies after Claudius' invasion. Centuriation was often imposed on conquered territories and created for local garrisons to farm, with the Sussex tribes loyal to Rome there was no need for this imposition and the pre-invasion dating now suggests an imitation. The east-west boundaries follow two minor Roman roads which themselves followed earlier droving tracks from the Iron Age linking the Downs to the wooded Weald and their antiquity is highlighted by the fact that they are followed by Saxon parish boundaries.
However, evidence is now pointing to an origin earlier than the invasions most likely created by the Atrebates tribe based around Chichester who had pre-invasion links with the continent and became client kings and allies after Claudius' invasion. Centuriation was often imposed on conquered territories and created for local garrisons to farm, with the Sussex tribes loyal to Rome there was no need for this imposition and the pre-invasion dating now suggests an imitation. The east-west boundaries follow two minor Roman roads which themselves followed earlier droving tracks from the Iron Age linking the Downs to the wooded Weald and their antiquity is highlighted by the fact that they are followed by Saxon parish boundaries.
by Simon Carey
Created: Sun, 23 May 2010, Updated: Sun, 23 May 2010
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