Brentwood School scholar and author Richard Thames mentions in his book Brentwood Past, the Roman Emperor Claudius’ conquest of Britain at Camulodunum (Colchester) in AD43.
The story was visualised by the distinguished poet and novelist, Robert Graves, and set out in his work I, Claudius and Claudius the God.
In the story he places the battle at Brentwood: “a place about 20 miles along the London-Colchester Road... a wooded ridge called Brentwood Hill, which curved round the road in a great horseshoe, at each tip of which was a great stockade fort, with another in the centre.”
Weald Brook and other local places were mentioned, and although imaginary, Graves obviously chose the town as a natural setting.
Roman emperors apart, through the ensuing centuries, we often received royal folk who found the journey (merely 18 miles from the City of London) a relatively easy trot by horse, carriage or maybe these days - helicopter.
Queen Elizabeth I enjoyed staying at Ingatestone Hall with Sir William Petre’s family during one of her many 'Progresses' through Essex.
Around 240 visits around Essex were recorded during her 44 years on the throne.
So huge was her entourage, 300 or so – that Lord Petre was almost bankrupted by enormous food bills.
Then there was King George III who invited himself to the newly-completed Thorndon Hall in October 1778 visiting the then Lord Petre.
Again, the family was expected to feed them all.
The following day the King rode to Warley to review his troops and witness a mock battle.
Royalty arrived in Brentwood when Queen Mary and other royal family members paid visits to plantswoman, Ellen Willmott to view her fabulous gardens at Great Warley.
During the 1930s, Edward, Prince of Wales was stationed at Warley Barracks and photographs of King George VI show him taking the colour parade.
At this famous training barracks which were demolished to make way for the Ford Motor Company headquarters.
The Queen Mother took the Salute at Warley a little before the barracks closed.
On October 30, 1957, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip appeared on the small balcony of the newly-built Brentwood Council Offices (now the Town Hall) and Princess Anne opened our new library in 1991.
Just think how the royal family might have been very different had Henry VIII’s illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy (born 1519 to his mistress Elizabeth Blount of Blackmore) had been acknowledged and lived beyond his 17 years.
He would have surely been crowned Henry IX?
- Sylvia Kent is an author, historian and president of Brentwood Writers’ Circle (brentwoodwriterscircle.com).
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