MAJOR ROMAN SITES IN BRITAIN

NOTES ON EARLY BRITISH ROMANO-MILITARY & CIVILIAN SETTLEMENTS

Antonine Wall - Strathclyde

Built on the orders of the Emperor Antoninus around 142 AD the Antonine Wall was designed to shift the existing frontiers northward from Hadrians Wall. When completed the wall was approximately 40 miles long, stretching from Bridgeness to Old Kilpatrick. It was constructed of a thick stone foundation, topped with cut turf and with a wooden walkway at its peak.

Bath - [Aquae Sulis] - Avon

Named after the Celtic goddess "Sulis" the Romans constructed elaborate buildings and facilities and turned the site into a major centre for medicinal bathing and healing. Such was its reputation that visitors were attracted to Bath from all over the Roman Empire. The town was originally occupied by the Romans in order to protect a vital crossing point on the River Avon. There is evidence that a number of pre-Roman settlements had existed in or around the area prior to the Romans invasion of Britain. The bath complex was started in the 1st century and was still being used as late as the 4th century. 

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Caernarfon - [Segontium] - Gwynedd

Known more for its medieval castle, Caernarfon was the site of a Roman fort built around 78 AD and housing a garrison of about 1000 men. Originally built of earth and wood, over the period of the Roman occupation the site developed until much of the defences were constructed of stone. 

Canterbury -

Built on the site of an earlier pre-Roman settlement Canterbury was developed by the Roman's to include planned streets, a forum, theatre, baths and shrines to their deities. King Ethelbert the Saxon ruler of Kent was baptized by St Augustine in 597 AD in St Martin's church in Canterbury.

Cardiff

Much of Cardiff Castle is built on the earlier foundations of the Roman fort.  The National Museum of Wales holds many Roman exhibits from all over Wales, including Welshpool, Caerwent, Caerleon and the fort at Gelligaer.

Chichester

Originally the capital of the "Regni" tribe, Chichester was developed by the Roman's to a typical street plan and housed a temple to Neptune and Minerva. The dedication stone from the temple now stands in the Guildhall.  

Cirencester

Settled in approximately 60 AD serving a small fort "Corinium" grew to become the second largest town in Roman Britain. At its centre was a forum and the town included a basilica (town hall) and an amphitheatre. The settlement was protected by a 2nd Century earthen rampart, which was supplemented by a stone wall in the 3rd Century. Inside these defences were towers, ditches and gates, including the Verulamiam Gate which was flanked by round guard towers.

Colchester

Originally called "Camulodunum" by both the British and Romans. Emperor Claudius celebrated its capture in 43 AD and established it as a settlement for retired legionaries.  The town was devastated during the uprising led by Boudicca in 60 AD, but was quickly rebuilt and enlarged by its inhabitants.  

Dorchester

Settled originally as a fort,  Dorchester grew and was developed over the period of the Roman occupation. In the 4th Century a concrete wall was built to protect the settlement, replacing an earlier earth and timber barricade. Nearby is the Roman cemetery at Poundbury which houses some 5000 graves and the pre-Roman fort of the same name. Here is the best preserved Roman aqueduct in Britain which was constructed in the 1st Century. The Dorset County Museum includes the skeleton of a Briton with a Roman ballista bolt in his spine, which was recovered from the hill-fort at Maiden Castle amongst many other artefacts.  The Roman Ballista was a high powered over-sized crossbow which could propel an iron-tipped bolt over great distances, penetrating amour, skin and bone.

Dover

Base of the Classis Britannica (the British Fleet) and quartered within a nearby fort, its role was to protect the south coast from marauding Saxon pirates. The Roman's constructed three lighthouses to help guide shipping across the expanse of water between Britain and France. Two were built at Dover and the third was constructed at Boulogne, all three being built around 43 AD and standing some 80 feet high. Only one lighthouse remains, sited near the castle and overlooking the harbour 

Hadrian's Wall

Conceived by the Emperor Hadrian in 122 AD whilst visiting Britain this massive undertaking was started in the same year and was nominally completed in 136 AD, with major changes being undertaken in 124 AD. Stretching from Newcastle-upon-Tyne to Bowness-on-Solway some 73 miles, it featured small forts or mile-castles evenly spaced throughout its length each of which was separated by two watch towers. Additionally, 16 front line forts were added to its defences after construction had been completed... The wall itself was approximately 21 feet high in total and 7-10 ft wide and was itself protected by a ditch at its front.  Defensive ditches were generally positioned to offer the Roman defenders an optimum throwing distance for their spears, ballistae and catapults which could rain down missiles on any attacking army.

Lincoln

Built originally as a base for the 9th Legion Lindum was sited on a hilltop, but continued development grew the town over a 20 year period to a four-gated Roman settlement.  Lincoln boasts the only Roman gate in Britain which has remained virtually intact.

London

Founded as Londinium, today's modern capital city grew out of a Roman settlement sited at a bridging point across the Thames. In the year 60 AD the town was virtually destroyed in the uprising led by Queen Boudicca, but was later rebuilt by the inhabitants and became the base for the Roman procurator who was the chief official of the provincial government. By the end of the 1st Century London had become the political and economic centre of the province, succeeding Colchester as the administrative capital. In keeping with its status as Britain's premier settlement, Londinium boasted the very best of Roman architecture, much of which was destroyed in the subsequent centuries of development through to today. In 1954 a temple dedicated to the Persian deity Mithras was discovered and was preserved and rebuilt for posterity. Although much of the day-to-day remains of Roman London have been lost or remain undiscovered beneath modern-day offices, the settlements defences can still be found throughout the area. The British Museum houses the biggest collection of Roman antiquities including, mosaics, wall panels, marble busts, bronze busts and military items. The Museum of London holds a wide variety of artefacts found within London itself. 

Maiden Castle

Built by British tribes the hill fort at Maiden Castle was finally secured by the great Roman general Vespasian around 47 AD following fierce battles between the two armies. Hundreds of years later the Roman's erected a temple to their deities within the fort's ramparts.    

York

Founded around 70 AD, York became the military headquarters of northern Britain. Growing from the original Roman fortress, the town was continually developed over the period of the occupation, with major defences being constructed during the time of the Emperor Constantius in the 3rd Century. The Multangular Tower is a ten-sided construction, with walls five feet thick and standing some 18 feet high.

SEE MORE ON THE ROMAN FORTRESS AT YORK BY CLICKING HERE

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