Visit the Residences of...
|
Llogres's District of
Caer Lud
Ceann mor:
Position is currently vacant
Caer Lud - London, before the arrival of the
Romans, was a Celtic Community on the
north bank of the River Temms (Thames).
What was it like? Hard to tell. Since the
early Celts built mostly of wood, there is little
evidence of the original settlement. Did they
have nice straight streets as the map
shows? Probably not! These
highly-independent people most likely built
their structures wherever they wanted. Was
the "City" walled? I would think it followed
the pattern of other Celtic Hillforts, and was
surrounded by a ditch and a low rampart,
surmounted by a wooden palisade. 
Before the coming of the Romans
 The position of Caer Lud (London) on the River Thames is the root of its long history, for better or for worse. The sheltered port is the perfect site for sea trade, connecting into the heart of the land. Two hills on the north bank (Cornhill and Ludgate) give an ideal setting for a city, above the flood plain with easy access to water and other resources of the land. On the other hand, the Thames is a natural borderline that requires constant defense against attacks by raiders coming from the sea or hostile tribes from within the land itself.
From archaeological findings, it is known that the site was an important center for trade even in prehistoric times. The powerful Catevallauni tribe united both the north and south banks before the Romans arrived, but it did not become a truly international city until the construction of Roman roads gave it additional advantage.  The ancient Celts of this area were divided into tribes whose territories were marked off by the Thames. There were the Trinovantes near Essex, the Catevaellauni to the north, Atrebates in the southwest and Cantiaci to the east. The history of these people was unwritten, kept only in oral traditions, and it comes down to us through historically unreliable filters, mainly the 12th century accounts written by Geoffrey of Monmouth. These accounts are based on a mixture of solid historical sources, nebulous ancient books, some classical authors both Celtic and Saxon, and Geoffrey's own fabrications. Archaeology has proven him as sometimes amazingly correct at times, other times as pure fantasy.  Neighbourhood builders:
Map by MacMorna Niafer
Article by MacMorna & Flidais Niafer Graphics by Amlaidh & MacMorna Niafer Hood design by Fedelm Cruithni
The Discussions of Caer Lud:
|
