Colchester (G-B): Remains of 'extraordinary' Roman arcade found
Ruins of the 120-metre-long Roman arcade - the largest of its kind in Britain - discovered in Colchester beneath land intended for new apartments
Patrick Sawer
An artist's impression of the frontal structure for the Temple of Claudius, named after the Emperor Claudius (inset) Photo: RMR Freelance Art/Archant/Alamy
The remains of Britain’s largest Roman covered walkway have been uncovered in one of the most spectacular archaeological finds in decades.
The ruins of the 120-metre-long walkway, or arcade, were found in Colchester, beneath land intended for a new apartment block.
Small sections of the structure had been revealed during the past 60 years – but it was only when an office block built on the site was demolished to make way for the new building that archaeologists began to realise the full extent and significance of the arcade.
The arcade was built in the late 1st Century or early 2nd, following the destruction of the town during Queen Boudicca’s rebellion against Roman rule.
Consisting of a covered walkway, enclosed by a line of arches on both sides, to provide shelter for pedestrians, it was built as the frontal structure for the Temple of Claudius, erected around 50 years earlier.
During her sacking of the town in 60 or 61 AD, Boudicca had razed the temple, where Colchester’s citizens had sought refuge, and the arcade is thought to have been part of the Romans’ attempt to rebuild the settlement and re-impose their domain across Essex and East Anglia.
Archaeologists say the landmark discovery confirms the strength and sophistication of Roman culture in Colchester, the first Roman city in Britain and founded as a colony for retired Roman soldiers.
The latest find was made by the Colchester Archaeological Trust and will go on permanent public display this summer, beneath three glass panels.
Phillip Crummy, the archaeological trust's director told The Telegraph: “This arcade is the largest of its kind in Britain. Its closest rival in terms of size stands in what was Gaul, in northern France, and shares some of the architecture we can see in Colchester today - but that is only around 70-metres long.
"The original arcade and its grand columns are similar to those you see in Bath, at the Roman Baths. It really is an extraordinary find and confirms the grandeur and richness of its Roman culture."
The arcade would have comprised a series of 28 arches built across the front of the temple precinct, with a grand gateway in the middle, named after the Emperor Claudius.
Dr Crummy's team have been able to piece together how the arcade would have looked from their existing knowledge of the temple’s remains, which form the base of the town's Norman castle.
How the arcade would have looked
He added: "We've now managed to work out the dimensions of the columns found at One Castle House in Roman feet. These calculations have allowed us to design a digital reconstruction, as we have displayed here on a projector.
Part of the Roman arcade
"With this discovery, we can now show what a Roman arcade was like 1,800 years ago."
The remains of the central Claudius gateway were first discovered in 1931. Parts of the arcade where found in 1954, with more ruins excavated in 1964. But it was not until the latest discovery that archaeologists realised the full significance of the arcade structure.
Tim Young, Colchester Borough councillor responsible for culture, said: "This discovery will add an exciting dimension to the castle experience.
"We opened up the original exit of the castle recently, which will allow all of the elements, including the castle itself and the new display, to come together.
"I think introducing something like this to the town shows us how Roman Colchester really is. We live in the oldest town in Britain and we must make the most of that fact.”
The new apartment block is being developed by Flying Group, one of the largest suppliers of world foods in the UK. The firm has now decided to preserve the arcade as the centre piece of a public display on the building’s ground floor, raising funds for both local good causes and for its World Food Aid charity.
Suki Dulai, managing director of Flying Group, said: "After the discovery of Claudius Gateway, we've decided to preserve and celebrate our history with the community of Colchester."
The arcade’s remains will open temporarily to the public this Saturday between 10am and 4pm, ahead of the permanent display being completed.
An artist's impression of the arcade
Key Roman finds in Colchester:
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Head Street: A 1.5m section of a Roman house dating back to AD 61 found at the site of the town's former post office
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Abbey Fields: Britain's only-known Roman circus, which is thought to have been able to hold between 8,000 and 15,000 spectators, discovered in 2005
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Lexden Road: A series of tombs were excavated from under Colchester Royal Grammar School in 2005
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Queen Street: Sections of the Roman Wall's South Gate, found while gas mains were being laid by Morrisons in 2008
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Barracks: A hoard of more than 1,200 coins found by archaeologists at the former Hyderabad and Meeanee barracks site in 2011
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West Stockwell Street: An archaeological dig uncovered a Roman road under the former Stockwell Arms in 2012
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St Helena School: The remains of a walled Roman temple precinct excavated by the Colchester Archaeological Trust in 2013
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Napier Road: Eight Roman graves dating back to the third and fourth centuries unearthed at the site in 2013
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Williams and Griffin department store: Three gold armlets, a silver chain necklace and two silver bracelets belonging to a wealthy Roman woman, found in 2014.
Roman Colchester
. 43AD: Soon after the Roman conquest Britain's first Roman fortress is established
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49AD: Colchester, or Camulodunum as it was then known, becomes first Roman capital of Britain
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54-60AD: Roman temple of Claudius built where Colchester Castle now stands
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61 AD: Camulodunum almost destroyed during Boudicca's rebellion