Boudica and The Gop

Charles Evans-Gunther

The Gop is a fascinating place that can be seen for miles. An old friend of mine suggested, years ago, that it was a focus for a ley line. There is no doubt in my mind that when in the area of Maen Achwyran some sort of energy or water or something leaves the cross and travels in the direction of Gop Hill, which can be seen from there. I actually dowsed around Maen Achwyran myself; I do believe there is something behind dowsing but do not consider myself to be anything of an expert.

Boudica’s last battle – the possibilities compared

Introduction by Bob Trubshaw

Generations of schoolkids have been brought up on the fateful battle of Boadicea against the Roman army. Modern historians would prefer to spell her name Boudica – which means ‘Victoria’ in British Celtic languages – but they have little evidence to offer for the site of the fateful encounter. Nevertheless, a number of suggestions have been put forward. At the beginning of this year, as a result of helpful ‘intervention’ by Philip Heselton, I was approached by Broc Beag who had discovered little-known references to Boudica’s last battle being in north Wales. This is mostly nineteenth century antiquarian speculation and much of the ‘evidence’ relies on regarding bronze age burial mounds and Anglo-Saxon cross shafts as contemporary with the Roman invasion but, nevertheless, suggests that there is a deep-rooted local tradition for Boudica’s battle being in this vicinity.

Key dates in the Boudican revolution

55 BCE Julius Caesar invades with the Xth legion, but does not stay and only took hostages.

3 CE The Claudian invasion

61 CE The massacre of the druids.

61 CE The rise and fall of Boudica

62 CE (assumed) Boudica dies from her wounds.

78-84 CE Agricola rules Britain (He was present at the battle with Boudica).

120 CE Hadrian built his wall.

Boudica – the case for Atherstone and Kings Cross

Bob Trubshaw

‘The site of the great battle which decided the fate of Roman Britain will never be known for certain, unless some quite remarkable finds are made, such as a mass burial with closely identifiable weapons in association.’ So writes Graham Webster, one of the few respected Romanists to have tackled the thorny issue of Boudica’s defeat [1]. Webster does make a clear assertion that the battle took place near Mancetter, the Roman town which now underlies part of Atherstone in north Warwickshire.