In Search of Roman Shropshire
47 A.D. Britain is conquered by Emperor Claudius and
becomes an island province of the Roman Empire.
78 A.D. Military Western Command is transferred from Viriconium
to Chester, leaving the former to become a thriving civilian
town and centre for civilian administration.
The history of Roman Wroxeter, or Viroconium, is, at best, complex,
with many historians over the years coming out with theories
as to its size and its post-Roman history. The truth of the matter
is that, without wider excavations, we cannot find its true size
and content, and its post-Roman history will always be a mystery.
Viroconium, Shropshire's largest Roman site, stands just south
of Shrewsbury. It was founded by the Romans on a site which is
unlikely to have had an earlier non-Roman settlement. The nearest
settlement was probably on top of the Wrekin where the Cornovii
had a hill fort. The site at Viroconium was probably chosen because
it was beside, or close to, an existing river crossing and would
thus be of strategic benefit to the Romans. But Viroconium was
not the first Roman site in the area.
Around AD 48, there was a campaign under Ostorius Scapula against
the tribal leaders in the area who refused to bow to Rome. At
that time the Roman army was supplied by Watling Street and there
are many early Roman sites along this road, the nearest to Viroconium
being at Eaton Constantine under the shoulder of the Wrekin.
Nearer to Viroconium there are at least two military sites, at
Duncot to the north, and to the south on the east bank of the
Severn.
These were probably all in use, at one time or another, during
the Roman conquest of Britain when temporary or more permanent
defensive positions were a necessity. But then came a time when
it was more advantageous to create a central garrison town in
the area, and beneath the present ruins of Viroconium lie that
first Roman garrison town. This was probably around AD58 under
the command of Q Veranius, a young and efficient commander sent
by Nero to attempt to settle the turbulent Welsh tribes. Beneath
the present site of the Baths, at a depth of about 10 feet, has
been found the site of timber buildings dating from when Viroconium
was a garrison town. These buildings date from around AD 58 to
AD 90. At this later date the military had shifted to Chester
leaving Viroconium as a civil administrative centre rather than
a military administrative centre. But those thirty years of military
presence in the area have a great bearing on the later civilian
importance of Viroconium.
If you take a modern garrison town as an example, say Aldershot,
you find that the military presence attracts civilians, for troops
have to be fed, clothed and entertained. These civilian entrepreneurs
have, in turn, have to be fed clothed and entertained, and so
a structure of a town grows where the main industry is simply
catering for the military presence. When the military leaves,
the civilian structure is already in place for the town to continue
as a civilian administrative and possibly manufacturing centre.
An example nearer to home is Shrewsbury or Ludlow, each of which
had an important military significance in their early history
which, when no longer necessary, was replaced by a civilian administrative
and trading centre.
If you excavated in the centre of any modern town, you would
find new buildings standing on old, and old buildings standing
on even older ones, each successive building probably having
been modified as to its use during its life time. The same is
true of Viroconium with excavations showing that buildings were
started, but not completed for their original design, or, at
least altered to fit some new use or whim.
The reason I say or whim is because of the visit of Emperor
Hadrian around AD 120. He was very much a hands on Emperor
whose rule was tempered by the bitter experiences he had faced
under his predecessor Trajan. Hadrian was also a practical politician
who realised the impossibility of ruling such a vast Empire as
his predecessor, especially when much of that Empire was unprofitable
or unproductive. Hadrian set about establishing frontiers behind
which his Empire could be ruled by administration rather than
ruled by military might. When these boundaries had been established,
all within them (whether willing or not) were Roman subjects
entitled to a certain standard of culture. It is believed that
it was after his visit to Viroconium that an unfinished baths
became the new town's forum. Excavations in the mid-1920's
revealed the remains of a great inscription which translated
as To the Emperor Caesar Trajanus Hadrianus Augustus, son
of the deified Trajanus Parthicus, grandson of the deified Nerva,
Pontifex Maximus, holding the tribunican Power for the fourteenth
year, consul for the third time, father of his country, the community
of the Cornovii (erected this building)
The original can be seen in Rowley's House Museum in Shrewsbury,
as can a cast of it in the Viroconium site museum. A fitting
foundation stone to what was then Shropshire's New
Town. This magnificent public building with its 267 ft frontage
included a market and a great basilican hall behind which were
the administrative offices of the civic authorities, and with
the baths opposite it formed the most impressive civic planning
undertaken in Roman Britain. To the south of the forum excavations
revealed shops and a temple. This temple was built after the
fire (around 160 AD) which destroyed many of the timber buildings
at Viroconium. Archaeologists believe that around the end of
the 4th century it was stripped of its statues and furnishing.
(Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that "In this year
the Romans collected all the treasures which were in Britain
and hid some in the earth so that no-one afterwards could find
them, and some they took with them into Gaul.")
The Public Baths is the only part of Viroconium
which has been excavated in great detail and is readily seen
by visitors. From this small part of Viroconium one can get an
idea as to what was available for residents.
Shropshire's Secrets
Even if the whole of the Viriconium site was excavated, much
would still be conjecture as to its history. This is mainly because
all that remains is at ground level so that, for example, the
unearthed footings of a wall can indicate its height, but not
necessarily the purpose of it or what it contained.
I am sure that we will never know the full history of Viriconium,
in fact we are unlikely to even piece together its Roman history,
never mind the more important post-Roman history of the site.
There are many documents available for study giving theories
as to Viriconium's history, and here is just a small sample of
the them.
What's in a name?
The Victorian County History explains it thus:- the exact
form of the name is uncertain. English antiquaries have preferred
Uriconium, foreign scholars Viroconium or Viriconium, and Vriconium
has also been suggested. The evidence of our ancient sources
is somewhat confused. The MSS of the Itinery contain all these
forms, there being no manuscript distinction between Vriconium
and Uriconium. - We have preferred in this paper the word ' Viroconium'
a s perhaps the most widely used in modern times, and as
in all probability more correct than the Uriconium favoured by
English writers.
River Crossing
It is obvious that the Romans had a river crossing beside Viroconium,
but its exact form and location seems to be in doubt. One theory
is that a wooden bridge spanned the river just below the present
island and that a ford lay a few yards downstream from this.
Another theory is that the island was not there in Roman times
and that the channel to the east of the island is post-Roman.
Some believe that the bridge was from the west bank to what is
now the island.
Memories & Controversy
Caradoc Field Club Transactions 1931-34.
There is no clear evidence, but it is possible that an earlier
native settlement existed on the site of the city before the
Romans arrived. Ptolemy, who wrote in the 2nd century, describes
it as having been the chief city of the Cornovii.
Salopian Shreds & Patches 1878
No fact seems as yet to have been offered so strongly to prove
the suddenness of the destruction as the half-burnt relics of
the funeral pyre. Camden (1695) supposes the city to have been
destroyed by the Danes; but Gibson, in a note, urges that this
could not have been the case, as no Saxon coins or other remains
are found. He also supposes it to have been in ruins when the
Saxons arrived, as they gave it in the name of Wrekin-ceaster,
or the destroyed city. I was much surprised on perusing Phillips'
'Cyder' to find its doom attributed to an earthquake. He describes
in a spirited passage the utter destruction of the city. The
poet was a native of the spot, - but is his description merely
poetic licence, or was it founded on some authority?
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