Athena Review 1,2: Romano-British Sites and Museums, 2: Towns and Villas

free trial issue subscribe back issues

Athena Review Vol.1, no.2

Romano-British Sites and Museums (part 2):

A guide to towns, villas, and regional museums.

The Roman era in Britain lasted for four centuries, with continuous Roman occupation from AD 43 to 410. Hundreds of archaeological sites representing mixtures of Roman and native British cultures are known in England, Wales, and Scotland, ranging from large forts and towns to individual villas and small farms. Evidence of daily life during the Roman period may be seen at a variety of sites and museums, including many local and regional displays featured in this guide.

The Guide to Romano-British Sites and Museums (beginning in part 1 with Forts and Military displays) continues here with Roman towns, villas, regional and local museums, and other (non-British) Roman collections in the UK. Wherever available, related Internet links are provided.

III.. Romano-British towns and related museums: (Roman name of town in italics):

codes:

* Museum at or near site.: BATH Roman bathhouse present.
CIV Civitas capitals (England and Wales): towns established for tribal capitals, often in native market centers.: COL Coloniae: (England): towns established for legionary veterans and other Roman citizens.
LEG Legionary fortresses (England,Wales, and Scotland): The headquarters for each of the Roman legions in Britain.

Aldborough (Isurium Brigantum): * CIV. Roman Town and Museum, Aldborough, North Yorkshire, England

Bath (Aquae Sulis): * Roman Baths Museum, Pump Room, Stall St., Bath, Avon, England (BATH).
Bristol (Abona): * Portway Roman House, Seaways, Bristol; also City Museum, Bristol, Avon, England
Caerleon (Isca): * LEG. Roman Baths Museum and Amphitheatre. Caerleon, Gwent, Wales (BATH).
Caerwent (Venta Silurum): * CIV. Roman town. Caerwent, Gwent, Wales. Finds at Newport Museum, Newport, Gwent, Wales.
Caistor St. Edmund (Venta Icenorum): The Roman Town * CIV. Finds at Norwich Castle Museum, Norwich, England (BATH).; Norwich Museum
Caister-by-Yarmouth: Roman town and seamen's hostel. Caister-by-Yarmouth, Norfolk, England
Cambridge: * University Museum of Archaeology,Cambridge University, Downing St., Cambridge, England
Cambridge University Department of Classics
Canterbury (Durovernum Cantiacorum): * CIV. Roman Museum, High St., Canterbury, Kent, England
Carlisle (Luguvalium): * CIV. Carvetii. Tullie House Museum, Castle Street, Carlisle, Cumbria, England
Carmarthen (Moridunum Demetarum): CIV. Roman town. Dyfed, Wales
Chester (Deva): * LEG. Grosvenor Museum, 27 Grosvenor St., Chester, Cheshire, England
Chichester (Noviomagus Regneses): * CIV. District & Guildhall Museums, 29 Little London, Chichester, WSussex, England
Cirencester (Corinium Dobunnorum):* CIV. Corinium Museum, Park St., Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England
Colchester (Camulodunum): * COL. Colchester & Essex Museum, The Castle, Colchester, Essex, England
Dorchester (Durnovaria): CIV. Durotriges. Dorset, England (BATH).
Dover (Dubris): * Roman Painted House Museum, Market Square, New Street, Dover, Kent, England
Exeter (Isca Dumnonnorum): * CIV. Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery, Queen Street, Exeter, Devon, England
Gloucester (Glevum): * COL. City Museum & Art Gallery, Brunswick Road, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England
Ilchester (Lindinis): Roman fort and town. Ilchester, Somerset, England
Leicester (Ratae Corieltauvum): * CIV. Jewry Wall Museum, St.Nicholas Circle, Leicester, Leicestershire, England (BATH).
Lincoln (Lindum) * COL. City & County Museum, 12 Friars Lane, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England
London (Londinium): * Museum of London, Barbican Centre, London Wall, London, England
* British Museum, Dept. Prehistoric & Romano-British Antiquities. Great Russell Street, London, England
Mildenhall, Suffolk, England (finds in British Museum).
Shepton Mallet, Roman town, Somerset, England. Shepton Mallet Roman town
Silchester (Calleva Atrebatum): * CIV. Roman town and Calleva Museum. Silchester, Berkshire, England; also Reading Museum
St. Albans (Verulamium): * Verulamium Museum, St. Michael's, St.Albans, Hertfordshire, England (BATH).
Uley, Gloucestershire, England. Temple of Mercury; finds in British Museum
Wall (Letosetum): * Roman Site & Museum, Wall, near Litchfield, Staffordshire, England (BATH).
Water Newton (Durobrivae), nr. Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England (finds in British Museum)
Winchester (Venta Belgarum): * CIV. City Museum, The Square, Winchester, Hampshire, England
Wroxeter (Viriconium Cornoviorum): * CIV. Rowley's House Museum, Barker Street, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, Engl.(BATH). Wroxeter Hinterland Project University of Birmingham GIS project.:
York (Eburacum): * COL, LEG. Yorkshire Museum, Museum Gardens, York, North Yorkshire, England (BATH).

IV. Roman villas & palaces

codes: * Museum at or near site.

BATH Roman bathhouse present.

Bancroft Villa, Millers Way, Bradwell, near Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England
Bignor Villa and Museum, * Bignor, West Sussex, England (BATH).
Brading Villa, Brading, Isle of Wight, England
Carisbrooke Villa, Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight, England
Chedworth Roman Villa & Museum, * Yanworth, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England (BATH).
Crofton Roman Villa, Orpington, Bromley, Kent, England (BATH).
Dicket Mead, Welwyn Roman Baths, Welwyn, Hertfordshire, England
Ffrith Villa, Caergwrle, Clwyd, Wales
Fishbourne Roman Palace & Museum, * Fishbourne, Salt Hill Rd., Chichester, West Sussex, England (BATH)
Folkestone Museum & Art Gallery, * Grace Hill, Folkestone, Kent, England (BATH)
Great Witcombe Villa, past Droy's Court, Gloucestershire, England (BATH)
Hinton St. Mary, Dorset, England (finds in British Museum).
Kings Weston Villa, * Long Cross, Avon, England; Blaise Castle House Museum, Henbury, Bristol, Avon, England (BATH).
Littlecote Villa, * Hungerford, Berkshire; Littlecote House, Wiltshire, England.
Lullingstone Villa, west of Eynsford, Kent, England (BATH).
Lydney, Gloucestershire, England (BATH).
Newport Villa, Cypress Road, Newport, Isle of Wight, England (BATH).
North Leigh Villa, East End, Oxfordshire, England (BATH).
Pentre Villa, near Flint, Clwyd, Wales
Rockburne Villa, West Park, Hampshire, England (BATH).
Rudston Villa. East Yorkshire, England. Mosaic in British Museum.
Titsey Park Villa, Titsey Park, near Warlingham, Surrey, England
Welwyn Villa, Welwyn, Hertfordshire, England

V. Museums with regional and local collections from Romano-British sites:

a. England:

Alnwick Castle Museum, Alnwick Castle, Alnwick, Northumberland, England
Bromley Museum, The Priory, Church Hill, Orpington, Kent, England
Buckinghamshire County Museum, Church St., Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England
Clifton Park Museum, Clifton Lane, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England
Devizes Museum, Long St., Devizes, Wiltshire, England
Dorset County Museum, High West St., Dorchester, Dorset, England
Durham Museum of Archaeology, Old Fulling Mill, The Banks, Durham, County Durham, England
Godalming Museum, 109a Hill Street, Godalming, Surrey, England
Gravesham Museum, High Street, Gravesend, Kent, England
Hereford City Museum & Art Gallery, Broad Street, Hereford, Hereford & Worcester, England
Isles of Scilly Museum, Church Street, St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly, Cornwall, England
Langton Matravers Local History & Preservation Society, The Hyde, Langton Matravers, Swanage, Dorset,England
Letchworth Museum & Art Gallery, Broadway, Letchworth, Hertfordshire, England
Lewes Museum of Sussex Archaeology, Barbican House, High St., Lewes, East Sussex, England
Littlehampton Museum, 12A River Rd., Littlehampton, West Sussex, England
Malton Museum, Town Hall, Market Place, Malton, North Yorkshire, England
Manor House Museum, West St., Kettering, Northamptonshire, England
Norris Museum, The Broadway, St. Ives, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England
Nottingham University Museum, University Park, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England
Nuneaton Museum & Art Gallery, Riversley Park, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England
Oxford, Museum of, St. Aldate's, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England
Priest's House Museum, 23 High St., Wimborne Minster, Dorset, England
Reading Museum, Reading Museum and Art Gallery, Blagrave Street, Reading, England
Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum, The King's House, 65 The Close, Salisbury, Wiltshire, England
Somerset County Museum, Taunton Castle, Taunton, Somerset, England
South Somerset Museum, Hendford Manor Hall, Yeovil, Somerset, England
Tolson Museum, Ravensknowle Park, Wakefield Rd., Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England

b. Scotland: local and regional museums with Romano-British displays

Aberdeen: University Anthropological Museum, The University, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
Clydebank: Old Town Hall, Dumbarton Road, Clydebank, Scotland.
Cumbernauld Museum, Ardenlea House, The Wynd, Cumbernauld Village, Scotland
Dumfries Burgh Museum. The Observatory, Dumfries, Scotland. Finds include altars from Birrens.
Dundee: McManus Galleries, Albert Square, Dundee, Scotland. Finds from fort at Carpow.
Falkirk Museum, 15 Orchard St., Falkirk, Scotland
Hunterian Museum. University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow, Scotland. Bearsden, Bar Hill, Castledykes & other sites
Kilsyth: Public Library, Burngreen, Kilsyth, Scotland. Local finds, including a Roman altar.
Melrose: Abbey Museum, Melrose, Scotland. Materials from Newstead.
National Museum of Scotland, Queen St., Edinburgh, Scotland. Fendoch, Mumrills, Birrens, Rough Castle, Newstead, & other sites.
Selkirk: Halliwell's House, Halliwell's Close, Selkirk, Scotland. Finds from Oakwood fort.

c. Wales: local and regional Romano-British exhibits.

Dolaucothi gold mines. Pumpsaint, Dyfed, Wales.
Newport Museum & Art Gallery, John Frost Square, Newport, Gwent, Wales Caerwent and other sites.
Museum of Welsh Antiquities, Old Canonry, Ffordd Gwynedd, Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales
National Museum of Wales, Cathays Park, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales. Numerous sites.

VI. Other UK museums with large Roman-era collections (from other regions, not primarily Roman Britain)

Ashmolean Museum of Art & Archaeology, Beaumont St., Oxford, Oxfordshire, England. Griffith Institute
Birmingham City Museum & Art Gallery, Chamberlain Sq., Birmingham, West Midlands, England
University of Birmingham Archaeological Resource Guide for Europe.
British Museum Dept.Greek & Roman Antiquities, Great Russell Street, London, England
Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge University, Trumpington St. , Cambridge, Cambridgshire, England
Leeds City Museum, Municipal Buildings, The Head Row, Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Manchester Museum, The University, Oxford Road, Manchester, Great Manchester, England
Nottingham Castle Museum, Brewhouse Yard, Castle Boulevard, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England
Sir John Soane's Museum, 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, England
University of Wales, Swansea, Wales. Wellcome Museum

Athena Review Image Archive™ | Paleoanthropology in the News | Guide to Archaeology on the Internet | Free issue | Back issues