EXPLORE SHROPSHIRE: THE RAVEN HOTEL AND
WROXETER ROMAN CITY
Wroxeter Roman City (or Viroconium) lies halfway between the mediaeval town of Shrewsbury and the birthplace of the industrial revolution at Ironbridge and is situated 8 miles some 18 minutes from the Raven Hotel in Much Wenlock.
The Town began as a legionary fortress about AD 58 as a legionary fortress for the XIVth legion during their invasion of what is now Wales. The fortress was abandoned by the military around AD 88. During that period it stood on the edge of the Roman Empire, forming part of its frontier with Wales.
It later developed into a thriving civilian city, populated by retired soldiers and traders. By AD 130 it had expanded to cover an area of more than 173 acres (70 ha). Wroxeter became the fourth largest city in Roman Britain with a population of more than 15,000 people. The three larger Roman Cities, London, Cirencester and St. Albans have all been sites of continuous occupation but Wroxeter was simply abandoned sometime in the 5th or 6th Century.
Most of the town still remains buried, but it has largely been mapped through archaeological geophysics and aerial archaeology. The most impressive features are the 2nd century municipal baths and hypocaust, and the remains of the largest surviving sections of Roman wall in Britain which divides the baths from the exercise hall in the heart of the city.
Viroconium is an English heritage site. The site museum and audio tour show how Wroxeter functioned and gives a facinating insite into the lives of its inhabitants.
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