Roman York
This evening, I am reprising my passion for the Roman era via a tour of Roman York in N.E. England.
York was established as a major centre of Roman Britain in the first century AD by the Ninth Legion and later the Sixth Legion. Between AD 208 and 211 York (Eboracum) was actually the epicentre of the Roman Empire as during that time the Emperor Septimus Severus (AD 145-211) was based there during his campaigns in what is now Scotland. Despite the successive occupations of York by Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, Normans and then the medieval era, there remain visible signs of the Roman occupation as summarised below.
At Bootham Bar is one of York’s medieval city gates which stands on the site of an entrance to the Roman fortress.
A small piece of Roman fortress wall exists at St. Leonard’s Place.
In the Museum Gardens is the Multangular Tower the lower levels of which incorporate Roman work.
The Roman Bathhouse under a pub in St. Sampson’s Square. Nearby is a great stone-built sewer (under Church St.) which served the baths.
Junction of the Via Praetoria and Via Principalis at Minster Gates. (No actual archaeology evident.)
Roman column (8m high) originally found under the tower of York Minster (Cathedral) and now erected opposite the south door of the Minster.
Remains of the east corner tower of the Roman Fortress at Aldwark. This is best viewed from the vantage point of the medieval city wall.
Line of the Roman fortress wall between Monk Bar and Bootham Bar along which runs the subsequent medieval wall.
Harkers pub in the city straddles part of the Praetorian Gate site. In the pub basement can be found masonry which formed part of the gate structure. Overall, a great day for Roman aficionados like me.
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