Mostly now lost to time, Ambresbury Banks were a significant hill-fort in what was once a huge forest, now called Epping Forest. The trees used to go on for miles in all directions, right up to the Essex coast from the River Thames. Created around 300 BC, the hill-fort at Ambresbury Banks was a plateaux defended by seven foot high walls with a ten foot deep ditch that was twenty feet wide. Some of these embankments can still be seen. It is widely believed that the last battle between the invading Romans and Iceni Queen Boudica took place here.
After Boudica had sacked Colchester, a Roman centre of power, she headed to London. Although not the capital during this time, London was a vital port from the continent. The city-town had become a vibrant community based on this trade. As the Britons attacked London, the Roman governor was forced to return from campaigning in Wales without a victory. It was then that the main Roman force met with the Britons as they moved North.
The Romans waited for the Tribes to move forward, which they did in disarray. Using cavalry, they forced them into the defended ground. Wedging Boudica's army between the fort and a chain of ox-drawn waggons, with the high banks to each side, the Roman soldiers used their legionary tactics to overcome the scattered and disordered tribes-people. Once the army had been pinned up against the waggons, the legionaries slaughtered the oxen which meant the blockade would not move. At this point, the soldiers moved in and killed the entire Iceni force. Official statistics point to 80,000 Britons killed to 400 Romans. Boudica decided to take poison in order to escape the brutal punishment and execution she faced for standing up to the stronger force.