Name: Silchester Roman City Walls and Amphitheatre
Rating: 5.0

Silchester Roman City Walls and Amphitheatre

Mortimer West End, Reading RG7 2HP, UK

1-99 Years

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Description

Silchester in Hampshire has its origins as Calleva, a centre of the Iron Age Atrebates tribe from the late 1st century BC. After the Roman conquest of AD 43 it became the large and important town of Calleva Atrebatum. Unlike most Roman towns, it was never reoccupied or built over after it was abandoned in the 6th or 7th century, so archaeological investigations have given an unusually complete picture of its development.

The complete circuit of the Roman walls, some of the best-preserved Roman town defences in England, and remains of the amphitheatre still stand. The Iron Age town of Calleva, which covered over 32 hectares, seems to have been established between about 20 and 10 BC. It may have been a planned settlement of people from north-west Gaul (modern France), centred around the town of Arras and the tribe of the Atrebates.

Free Entry. If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

Free
Host birthday parties: No

Features

History of Silchester Roman City Walls and Amphitheatre: Silchester was originally the centre of the Iron Age kingdom of the Atrebates tribe from the late 1st century BC. After the Roman conquest in AD 43 it developed into the town of Calleva Atrebatum. Laid out on a distinctive street grid pattern, the town contained many public buildings and flourished until the early Anglo-Saxon period. Unusually among the Roman towns of southern Britain, it was not abandoned until the 6th or 7th century. Substantially excavated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and over the last 30 years, Silchester remains one of the best preserved Roman towns in Britain and is one of the few that were continuously occupied from the Iron Age.
Iron Age Tribal Centre: The Iron Age town of Calleva, which covered over 32 hectares, seems to have been established between about 20 and 10 BC. It may have been a planned settlement of people from north-west Gaul (modern France), centred around the town of Arras and the tribe of the Atrebates.
Calleva Atrebatum: A Roman Town: The large Roman town known as Calleva Atrebatum developed from its Iron Age predecessor from the mid 1st century AD onwards. A regular street grid was laid down over an area of about 40 hectares. Important buildings included public baths in the south-east quarter, and an administrative centre (the forum basilica) in the centre. There was a rest-house (mansio) near the south gate, used by travellers on imperial business, and an amphitheatre on the eastern edge of the town.
Silchester after the Romans: Unlike most major Roman towns in southern Britain, Calleva Atrebatum did not re-emerge as a town in the medieval period. Rome lost control of Britain at the beginning of the 5th century AD, when evidence suggests that Silchester was still a flourishing town. It is likely that it was abandoned sometime between AD 550 and 650.
Silchester Uncovered: The University of Reading has been excavating a particular part of the town, a residential area known as insula IX, every summer since 1997. Early excavations, particularly those of the Revd Joyce and the Society of Antiquaries (1890–1909), revealed the plans of all the stone buildings. After this, only small-scale excavations took place until the 1980s when the forum basilica and the amphitheatre were investigated.

Facilities

Parking: There is a charged car park at Silchester Roman Town in Wall Lane, RG7 2HP, managed by Hampshire County Council. The walls are a few minutes' walk from the car park and the amphitheatre a 10-minute walk.
Dogs: Dogs on leads are welcome but please be aware that the paths around the site take you through land grazed by cattle.

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Price

Price: Free

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Open any reasonable time during daylight hours.

Address: Mortimer West End, Reading RG7 2HP, UK

Post Code: RG7 2HP

Council: Basingstoke and Dean

County: Hampshire

Road Access: On a minor road, 1 mile east of Silchester.
Train Access: Bramley or Mortimer, both 2 3⁄4 miles.
Bus Access: Stagecoach Hampshire 14 to Silchester (within 1⁄2 mile). Alternatively Reading Transport service 2/2A to Mortimer then 2 mile walk.
Bicycle Access: Find this site on The National Cycle Network.
Parking: There is a charged car park at Silchester Roman Town in Wall Lane, RG7 2HP, managed by Hampshire County Council. The walls are a few minutes' walk from the car park and the amphitheatre a 10-minute walk.