History of Southampton construction of the reservoir. Further Bronze Age finds have been made near Cobden Bridge. Iron Age earthworks have been found at Lordswood and Aldermoor and evidence of Iron Age buildings has been found in the City Centre. Antonine Itinerary VII documents the Roman settlement of "Clausentum" in Roman Britain as being West of Noviomagus Reginorum (Chichester) and from Venta Belgarum (Winchester). In about 1770, John Speed claimed that "Clausentum" was in the area that is now known as Bitterne Manor. In 1792, the Rev. Richard Warner investigated those claims and found a ditch, a bank and some Roman coins. Since
Venta Silurum Roman temple, perhaps dedicated to Mars and the Celtic god Ocelus, have been identified on the site. A bowl with a chi-rho symbol shows that the worship of early Christian worship had begun in the late 3rd century. Following the withdrawal of the Roman legions from Britain, the town remained occupied until at least the mid-5th century. Early Christian worship was still established. The town might have had a bishop. A monastery was founded by Saint Tatheus in the 6th century. The site of the present church occupies part of an early Christian cemetery. The name "Venta" gave its name