The first London only lasted 10 years before it was totally destroyed by fire by Boudica, queen of the Iceni, a British tribe. Boudica (Boadicea) lead two tribes, the Iceni from Norfolk and Suffolk and the Trinovantes from Essex. There were several reasons why Boudica, attacked and destroyed Colchester, London and then St Albans – towns that supported the Roman way of life. Many of London's shops and houses were burnt and the town left in ruins by Boudica and her army.
A historian, Dio Cassius described Boudica as being very tall, terrifying to look at, with a harsh voice and a great mass of bright red hair that fell to her hips. There is no way of telling whether this is an accurate picture or not and there have been many illustrations of her since the 19th century.
London was rebuilt and a variety of settlements grew up in the Greater London area. Small villages, towns, industries, temples and shrines for passing travellers grew up alongside the roads that led out of London and pottery industries provided cheap everyday vessels for the major towns of London and St Albans. In the countryside, small farms and large villa estates, the equivalent of country houses today, grew and supplied fresh food to London and nearby towns.
