Wroxeter Roman City

Wednesday we are sight-seeing from Shrewsbury. About half an hour west is the Roman City of Wroxeter (called Viriconium Cornoviorum). This was the 4th largest in Britain with around 5,000 residents. Only the large bath house and part of the forum have been excavated but what is on display is pretty remarkable. There is a also a rebuilt Roman Villa built as part of a TV show called 'Roman Wasn't Built In A Day'. The idea was to build using only techniques and tools available to the Romans.

The bath house complex was large and impressive; basically to show the locals what great people the Romans were. The outside pool was eventually filled in again because they discovered that the cold westerlies from Wales made outside bathing just too difficult. There was a cold breeze blowing while we walked around.

The 'Old Work' as it is called is the highest surviving example of Roman building in Britain. It was the grand entrance into the Bath House from the basilica.

The 'Old Work'

Again we used the audio tour guide which really helps to understand what you are looking at. There were also a few groups of primary school kids being guided around the site by Roman guides 'in costume'. They seemed to be having a great time learning how to fight, do parade drills and use the latrines.

With our tummies rumbling (and no cafe at this site), we decided to head off to Ironbridge to find something to eat.