WROXETER ROMAN CITY, SHROPSHIRE, ENGLAND
(Viriconium Cornoviorum)
owned by
Wroxeter Roman City, otherwise known as Viriconium Cornoviorum, is one of the lesser known, yet fourth largest Romano-British cities was over 200 acres in size, with 2 miles of 'walls' and a population of about 5,000. It outlived the Roman occupation by 200 years before finally being abandoned with the arrival in the region of the Angels.
Viriconium was a civitas: one of the tribal administrative centres. In this case for the Cornovii tribe whose territory covered what is now Shropshire, Cheshire. part of Staffordshire, part of Herefordshire, part of Merseyside, Wrexham, Flintshire and part of Powys . This marvellous city may have been built with the blessing and help of their Roman masters but it was lived in and ran by the Britons of the region. The Romans knew how to subdue their subjects: give them all the trappings of the 'civilised ' world and they'll leave you in peace. It certainly worked with the Cornovii who knew they had a lot to gain from cooperating with the Imperialists!
Wroxeter began its life in 58 AD when the XIVth. Legion built a garrison fort by the River Severn where the ruins of Wroxeter now stand. After leaving for Armenia they were replaced by the famous XXth. Legion in 66 AD. They spent the next 24 years here and it's during this period that some of the Cornovii began to settle next to their Roman masters. This, in time, became vicus: a settlement near a fort.
The people of this settlement probably weren't too happy when the legion was sent north to Chester (Deva) in 90 AD, abandoning the garrison and demolishing the fortress in the process. Although the legionnaires at this time weren't allowed to marry they probably made a lot of local female 'friends'. The locals had obviously grown to like this new Roman, capitalist way of living as they moved into the now abandoned fort and, with Roman guidance and plans, began to make it into the city we know of today, giving it the name of Viriconium Cornoviorum. Viriconium may have had Roman overlords but it was essentially 'Celt'. It became one of the many civitates; independent administrative centres, governed by the Britons themselves but under the supervision of a Roman provincial administration based in Londinium (London). It became, in effect, the capitol of the Cornovii region.
Further reading...
Birmingham University Wroxeter Hinterland Project (Advanced)
Hinterland Project PDF (Very detailed)
Teacher Guide to Wroxeter PDF (English Heritage)
RECONSTRUCTING THE ROMANS
We originally reconstructed this site as an addition to our portfolio but we are at present developing it as the latest of our Pastscapes Virtual Tours. As a visitor on this tour you will be seeing the city's new Public Bath Complex on the day it was opened in 160 AD (the actual date is not known). As one of the 'dignitaries' you are allowed a sneak preview to the brand new facilities before they are opened to the general public. You'll see the cathedral sized exercise hall - the basilica thermae: the first stop to work up a sweat before entering the baths. Then there will be a trip through the various bath suites and on to the external exercise courtyard - the palaestra with its swimming pool - the natatio.
The tour actually begins outside the city so there's a chance to see its defences before moving up Watling Street to take in the shops, temples and forum on the way to the bath's insula. As with 'The Berth' Virtual Vista Tour, we are using all the techniques and technologies available to us - that can be transported via the internet - to make this a totally immersive experience.