Cirencester was known to be an important early Roman area, along with St.
Albans and Colchester, and the town includes evidence of significant area
roadworks. When the Romans built a fort where the Fosse Way crossed the Churn,
to hold two quingenary alae tasked with helping to defend the provincial
frontier c. AD 49, native Dobunni were drawn from Bagendon, a settlement of the
Dobunni situated 3 miles (5 km) to the north, to create a civil settlement
near the fort. When the frontier moved to the north following the conquest of
Wales, this fort was closed and its fortifications levelled c. 70, but the town
