There is rich Roman history embedded in the countryside of Great Britain. It is amazing to see how the people lived their daily lives. You can get a glimpse into the past by visiting these beautiful ancient Roman ruins.
There are so many locations to consider when trying to find the best 10 Roman ruins/buildings in England. The Romans ruled Britain for almost 400 years and the Roman Empire was the biggest empire to date. In the year 143 AD, 40,000 Roman soldiers invaded Britain in a very hard fought battle because the native British showed great tenacity.
Emperor Claudius decided to invade Britain to distract Roman citizens from his own political problems. He became emperor after the assassination of his predecessor and decided to conquer Britain because Julius Caesar had failed to do so 100 years earlier. At this time, most of Britain was very fragmented. There were many languages spoken by warring tribes. All this made Britain a very easy target for Rome. Many Romans considered Britain to be cursed.
The Romans landed unopposed on the British coast. Many people consider the original landing site to be Richborough. The remains of a large Roman fort can still be seen there. The Roman army was far better equipped. The British fighters had little to no armor, and it didn’t take long for the Romans to march across Britain.
Once the Romans conquered the capital, the emperor rode into the capital on the back of an elephant. This was the crowning point of his career and politically and militarily bolstered his position. The only problem was that the southeast had been conquered at this point, while the rest of the island remained free. Rome decided the best plan to conquer Britain was to create city-states by offering various tribes positions of power in exchange for not fighting. After acquiring a force of local tribes, Rome began to expand its control to the remaining parts of Britain.
1. Arbeia Roman Fort, Northumberland
This fort was once a maritime supply fort for Hadrian’s wall. Built in 160 AD, this supply fort played a vital role in maintaining military forces in Britain. This ancient Roman fort has been converted into a museum.
There are still remains of the original barracks, and you can still see how soldiers lived long ago. This gives you a unique perspective into ancient Roman life. You can go in the commanding officer’s house and see the beautiful mosaics. This is a beautifully kept structure that will give you true insight into the daily life of a Roman soldier.
2. Bignor Roman Villa, Sussex
Photo by David Holt London
This villa dates as far back as 200 AD. The villa was burned to the ground about 200 years after it was built. It was rediscovered in 1811 by a farmer.
This site has some of the best Roman mosaics in England; these mosaics are almost entirely intact. There still remains the base of mighty pillars that once held up great Roman structures. The artwork is exquisite. Many famous pieces, such as the dolphin, can be viewed. If you enjoy mosaics this is a must-see location.
3. Brading Roman Villa, Isle of Wight
This villa can be dated as far back as the 1st century AD and was in use until around the 4th century. This villa survived many Anglo-Saxon raids. It also survived several fires. The site is now a museum where you can see a lot of Roman stonework and mosaics.
You get access to private rooms and a complete look at the structure in general. This villa is in excellent condition; it is filled with awesome facts and interesting bits of ancient Roman architecture.