Despite some evidence of Iron Age occupation, there was probably not much happening at York before Emperor Vespasian began the conquest of northern Britain in 71AD. The Ninth Legion established a fortress, which would become the main military powerhouse during the Roman Occupation. We can assume there were trees here, as Eboracum means roughly ‘the place of the yew trees’.
The legionary fortress was large enough to accommodate 5,000 men. It was built to a fairly standard template, including a NS and EW road (the Via Praetoria – later Stonegate – and Via Principalis – later Petergate, respectively.) The fortress’s northern corner is marked by the tower where the current city wall turns east, close to the junction of Lord Mayor’s Walk and Gillygate. The southern corner lay at the bottom of Feasegate. The western extent is retained in the Roman multangular tower, while the ruins of the eastern corner can still be seen, behind the Merchant Taylor’s Hall. In all, the fortress spanned an area the size of 50 football pitches.
A civilian settlement was established on the SW bank of the Ouse, around the Micklegate area, some time in the c. 3rd.
York’s strategic position was confirmed by the establishment of two main arterial routes connecting the city with London in the south (Ermine Street) and the Antonine Wall to the north (Dere Street.)
Although the fortress was abandoned when Roman forces withdrew from Britain in the early c. 4th, quality Roman engineering meant much of it remained standing for another 400 years.
To find out more, pick a marker from the map above, or an item below, or just browse the list.
- Cup and Ring StoneAn innocuous stone in York’s Museum Gardens bears what appears to be cup and ring ...
- York MinsterYork Minster is one of the greatest cathedrals in northern Europe, and part of a ...
- York GuildhallYork Guildhall marks the point at which the Romans forded the River Ouse and provided ...
- The Treasurer’s HouseBuilt to house the treasurers of York Minster, the original medieval structure has been largely ...
- The Roman Bath, St Sampsons SquareWhile the pub itself is relatively modern, it sits on the site of a Roman ...
- StonegateMeans the stone-paved street. It follows the line of the Roman Via Praetoria, a street ...
- St Mary, Bishophill SeniorAll that remains of this church, demolished in the 1960s, is a community garden, which ...
- St Martin cum Gregory, MicklegateThe base of the tower is built from Roman masonry from the Temple of Mithras ...
- St Denys, WalmgateSet on a raised knoll above the current road level, the present building was founded in ...
- SarcophagiThere are a number of large stone coffins scattered around the Museum Gardens. Two rows ...
- Roman CornerThe ruins of a small square tower and the top of a curving wall mark ...
- Roman columnLocated just to the south of York Minster, this Roman column once stood within the ...
- Roman BasilicaIn 306AD, Constantine was visiting the fortress at York when his father died. The Sixth ...
- Multangular TowerThe Roman Empire annexed Britain in 43AD. When the Romans arrived in York in 71AD ...
- Monk BarDating from the 14th century, this is the tallest and strongest of the four main ...
- Dean Court HotelThis prestigious hotel, on the site of the original Roman fortress, is haunted by a ...
- Bootham BarBootham is a continuation of Petergate outside the city walls. There has been a gateway ...
- Anglian TowerThe so-called Anglian Tower, only excavated in 1969, is a small, square tower, built into ...