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Roman
Fort at Great Chesterford
A plan of the
fort has been obtained by piecing together information from aerial photographs
and excavations near to the M 11 site and is probably one of the earliest sites
in Britain. The men of Legio IX Hispana possibly occupied it during the initial
campaign season of Aulus Plautius in AD43.
The site
occupies an excellent strategic position over the ancient track way overlooking
the Cam valley. It is positioned somewhat interestingly between two later Roman
roads, the 'Via Devana' and 'Ermine Street'. The known road east-south-east
doglegs south to Great Dunmow at a point seven miles along its course, and
probably continued east-south-east to Colchester.
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