following the roman invasion, welwyn was settled by the romans. the area was marshy in times past, and the settlement of welwyn was a known fording point across the river since at least roman times when the roman road through the village was laid out, leading to the establishment of the settlement around the road and the ford. many roman artifacts have been found in and around the village, including the remains of several roman villas close by. the welwyn roman baths (the remains of a third-century roman bath house) have been preserved and are open to the public. one particular excavation revealed a large roman cemetery very close to the site of the current church, which itself is known to date back to at least saxon times (see below). the church lies directly alongside the route of the roman road.