A HISTORIAN has claimed a famous battle between Celtic Queen Boadicea and the Roman army took place near Sleaford.

Rupert Matthews says the scene of a massive revolt against the occupying force was between Ancaster and Bourne.

Now the noted writer and historian has called for the site of the battle to be located and preserved.

Mr Matthews, a former Lincolnshire resident now living in London, made his claim during a meeting of the Conservative Classical Association at the House of Commons.

He said: "In the early stages of her war against the Roman occupation of Britain, Boadicea scored a notable success when she ambushed and wiped out an entire Roman column consisting of about half the famous IX Hispana Legion.

"The description of the site of the battle given by ancient authors is vague, but they make it clear that the battle took place as the IX Legion was marching along the road from Lincoln to London.

"I believe the most likely location for the battle was in Lincolnshire between Ancaster and Bourne."

Queen Boadicea – or Boudica, as she is now more correctly called – was widow to the Iceni king, Prasutagas, head of the Iceni tribe based in modern-day Norfolk.

When Prasutagas died in AD59 or 60, Roman officials seized his land and property. Boudica, who objected, was flogged and her daughters were raped.

She raised the Iceni and the neighbouring Trinivantes tribe, from modern-day Essex, in revolt against Roman rule.

City of Lincoln Council archaeologist Mick Jones disagrees with Mr Matthews' reasoning.

"He is assuming that the IX Legion was all in Lincoln but we actually think that, even if there were any of them here in AD60, at least half of them were down at another base near Peterborough," he said.

"The general view among the experts is that the legion at Peterborough was ordered to London to suppress the rebellion.

"The battle was not anywhere here."