The Romans came to Britain nearly 2000 years ago. Today, the ruins of Roman buildings, forts, roads, and baths can be found all over Britain but there is little evidence of a Roman settlement at Tonbridge.

When did the Romans invade Britain?
In 43 A.D. (43 years after Jesus was born), Emperor Claudius organised the final and successful Roman invasion on Britain. General Aulus Plautius led four legions with 25,000 men, plus an equal number of auxiliary soldiers. They crossed the Channel in three divisions, landing at Richborough (Rutupiae), Dover (Dubris), and Lympne (Lemanis).

Roman Kent (Note Margate is on an island, the Isle of Thanet)	Kent today (Note Lympne is further inland today)

When the Romans invaded, Thanet was cut off from the mainland by the Wantsum, a river or arm or sea stretching from the Thames estuary. near Reculver on the north, to Pegwell Bay on the east. The Wantsun was probably a mile or two wide.

Click here to read more about Roman Britain

Tonbridge

There has been very little evidence of a Roman settlement in Tonbridge, although this does not mean that the Romans did not settle here.

A fourth century coin of Constantine (a Roman Emporer) was found on the mound of Tonbridge Castle in c.1885-6. This suggsts that even if they did not settle here they did pass through.

Roman settlement remains have been discovered nearby at Plaxtol, East Malling, East Barming, Kemsing, Otford, Shoreham and Lullingstone.

Lullingstone Villa as it might have looked