More information : Roman occupation of uncertain character (1),
possibly an early military base (2) dating to the Neronian
period, has recently been found (see SU 51 SE 13) at the point
where the Chichester-Winchester road (RR 421) crosses the River
Meon at Wickham (SU 5711).
The scatter of material is such to suggest that the settlement
may have been extensive, though no trace of a rectangular
earthwork has been found (1). (1,2)
Antonine Iter VII begins at Chichester but the identity of
'CLAUSENTUM' has still to be established, although it is
recorded as 20 Roman miles from Chichester and 10 from
Winchester. Clausentum has been attributed, since the 18th
century to the Roman town and naval base at Bitterne
(see SU 41 SW 1) but there is no corroborative evidence for
this. The actual mileage from Bitterne to Winchester is about
10 Roman miles, but to Chichester is more like 30, rather than
the 20 Roman miles mentioned in the Iter.
A site which more readily agrees with the Iter mileages is the
suggested settlement at Wickham (see Authy 1 & 2) lying just 20
Roman miles from Chichester but 14 1/4 from Winchester. (3)
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