Clausentum Clausentum Clausentum was a small town in the Roman province of Britannia. The site is believed to be located in Bitterne, which is now a suburb of Southampton. Antonine Itinerary VII documents the Roman settlement of "Clausentum" as being west of "Noviomagus Reginorum" (Chichester) and from "Venta Belgarum" (Winchester). In 1610, William Camden identified Southampton as being the site of "Clausentum" and described how at Bitterne he had seen "old broken walls, and trenches of an antient castle". Around 1770, John Speed claimed that "Clausentum" was in the area that is now known as Bitterne Manor. In 1792, the Richard
Venta Silurum to the emerging Kingdom of Gwent (called initially "Kingdom of Guenta"), and the town itself became known as "Caer-went" or "the castra/fort of Venta/Gwent". Tradition holds that Caradog Freichfras of Gwent moved his court from Caerwent to Portskewett around the 6th century. The town lacked substantial defences until the mid 4th century when stone town walls were built. A small garrison may have been based in the town during this period. Large sections of the defensive walls are still in place, rising up to 5 metres in height in places. The walls have been described as "easily the most impressive