More information : [Name SU 4545 6790] SPINIS ROMAN SETTLEMENT [G.S.]. (1,2)
Camden was the first to associate Speen with the Roman Station
Spinis recorded in the Antonine Itinerary (4). Then in 1813
Leman, in an MS. now in the Bath Museum, placed the site in the grounds of Speen House [SU 4523 6799]; a view shared by
J. Rickman in 1839 (5), and W. Money in 1892 (6).
The only evidence of earthworks is the scarping on the south
and east sides of Speen House garden, the ditch, [SU 4517 6814]
shown on the 25" Ordnance map north of the road, is a natural
slope. The only Roman remains found have been two coins, one of
Trajan Decius (7), (A.D. 249-251) the other of Faustina (A.D.
circa 141), with a general mention of Samian pottery and Roman
tiles (6). Much supposed Roman pottery and tiles were found when excavating the foundations of a house beside a private road to Mr.
Lowe's property near the church in Speen Village [almost certainly Speen House] (9) (10).
Peake does not consider there is sufficient evidence for accepting this site as Spinis (8). (3-10)
According to the mileages given in the Antonine Itinerary, the site of Spinar should be one and a half Roman miles nearer to Cunetio and further from Callea - i.e. in the area of SU 4300 6900. (11)
SPINIS. Presumed Roman settlement at Woodspeen, Berks (area SU 4469) although the nucleus has not been found. The Antonine Itinerary mileages indicate that it lay here, west of the modern village of Speen. (12)
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