Now the latest evidence shows that she penetrated to the south of the river, to Southwark. Already, within the first 10 years of its existence, London had acquired its first and most important suburb.

Roman Southwark

This is surely one of the most spectacular archaeological photos of all time. This is the new booking hall of the underground station at London Bridge, in Southwark, to the south of the River Thames.

Above is the modern road, with the traffic roaring overhead, and the  sewage pipes and service channels   suspended from the ceiling.  And at the bottom, the archaeologists are excavating the Roman road, the predecessor to the modern road above.

The Burning

Here, an archaeologist is seen drawing the layers of burning found  in one of the buildings flanking the Roman road at London Bridge. This provides the evidence that Boudica crossed  to the south bank and burnt Southwark too: thus Southwark must have existed by this time - and does this mean that the London bridge had also been constructed? 

A Roman lamp

One of the most remarkable finds was this pottery foot which is in fact a lamp - the wick burnt in the big toe.

Following the Boudican fire,  the site was soon re-occupied by timber buildings, and this lamp was found in a palisade slot, dating to the late 1st century. It may have been made in Holland.

Note the projecting second toe - a typical feature of Roman feet.