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.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reconstructed Roman Villa

Image
This evening, I am reporting on my visit earlier today to a meticulously reconstructed Roman Villa in Somerset, England.   Funding for the project was provided by a South African billionaire. Specific features of the reconstruction project which is known as 'Villa Ventorum': Employed hundreds of architects, builders, archaelogists, mosaic makers, fresco painters and experts on ancient plumbing. The new build was built close to the remains of the original villa which dates from AD351. Incorporates the only working hypocaust system in Europe to create authentic Roman underfloor heating. Thne system also provides heating for the internal baths. Designed to appear to visitors as though still in use. Mosaics and frescoes have been made below the top standards of the time (e.g. Chedworth ) to reflect the social rank of the resident family. Incorporates a Roman 'fast food bar' allong the lines of that found in Pompeii . (Core of above information sourced from the Times newspap
Read more

Glen Quaich, one of Scotland's best backroads tour routes

Image
This afternoon, I am reporting the route of Glen Quaich in Central Scotland. This is a scenic, single track road which is usually closed to traffic in winter. The route covers about twelve miles and runs between the villages of Amulree and Kenmore on the northern tip of Loch Tay in Perthshire. Depending on time of year it is possible to encounter low lying snow, many sheep, grouse and other exceptional opportunities for photography. Incidentally, Quaich means a drinking cup. In a certain place the landscape is shaped like a bowl. Glen Quaich, Perthshire, Scotland Glen Quaich Black Grouse at Glen Quaich Here are a couple of video clips.
Read more

Fort Augustus, a popular visitor site on southern tip of Loch Ness

Image
Loch Ness from flight of locks at Fort Augustus, Scottish Highlands This evening, I am posting information on Fort Augustus, a busy tourist village on the southern tip of Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. Summary information on Fort Augustus as follows:- Population about 650 persons. Distance, about 160 miles from Edinburgh and 35 miles from Inverness entailing journey times of 3.5 hours and 1 hour respectively. Well endowed with hotels and other accommodation plus shops, restaurants and visitor attractions. From here visitors can avail of boat trips on Loch Ness. Home to an impressive flight of five locks on the Caledonian Canal. Latter dates from 1822 and is now primarily used by pleasure boats. Closely linked with the 18th century Jacobite uprising in that (a) the village was renamed Fort Augustus (after Prince William Augustus, third son of King George II) consequent upon construction of a British military (redcoat) fort in 1742 and (b) the same Prince
Read more