County’s Roman city due to be expanded

Wroxeter Roman City Shropshire’s Wroxeter Roman City is to be expanded after English Heritage bosses revealed only the “tip” of the iceberg can currently be seen.

The city is the fourth largest Roman site in the UK and attracts thousands of people every year.

Viroconium – the city’s Roman title – is thought to have spread over more than 200 acres of land and had two miles of walls.

It began as a legionary fortress and later developed into a thriving civilian city, populated by retired soldiers and traders.

Much of this still remains below ground but owners English Heritage now plan to increase its size and uncover the rest of the city.

William du Croz, English Heritage regional estates surveyor, said: “Wroxeter is the fourth largest Roman city in Britain and is one of English Heritage’s largest properties, yet, like an iceberg, only the very tip of it is visible.

“We have commissioned Roger White from Birmingham University to develop a Conservation Plan for Wroxeter Roman City.

“We had a successful meeting on Saturday with a big turnout from the local community and Roger is making a further presentation in May.”

Roger Pittaway, clerk to Wroxeter Parish Council, said lots of people turned out to a meeting of the council on Monday night to discuss the plans.

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This article posted on March 11, 2009 at 10:50

11 Comments

  1. Y Mab Darogan said: Mar 11th, 2009 at 15:16

    Very good news this will bring jobs, tourists and money to Shropshire just what we need in this time of credit crunch

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  2. jonty said: Mar 11th, 2009 at 16:52

    great

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  3. Sylvia Wicks said: Mar 11th, 2009 at 19:41

    News that makes one so happy amidst all the unhappy news, we keep hearing day after day.

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  4. Proud salopian said: Mar 12th, 2009 at 15:13

    Brilliant news

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  5. V Lewis said: Mar 12th, 2009 at 16:59

    What about inviting Time Team along?

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  6. peter said: Mar 13th, 2009 at 08:30

    its good but it needs to come with expanded infrastructure too, more parking, a bus stop which actually has buses serving it, a bike lane, a shop which is open more than a few hours a day and more to do there, you need to attract visitors from all walks of life not just oaps who like looking round relics, make it a theme park, get some roman soldiers doing battle reconstructions, that would help

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  7. Tory Boy said: Mar 14th, 2009 at 08:07

    what a waste of pulbic money, stop sepnding, and cut taxes so consumers can start spending again!

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  8. devon salopian said: Mar 14th, 2009 at 08:17

    good news, but beware the ides of march, woe woe and thrice woe said lurcio

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  9. Dave thompson said: Mar 14th, 2009 at 13:39

    what we need is more infrastructure for education and interpretation, there is a hotel near here but it makes no mention of the romans

    the vineyard is a great example of how we can cash in on this and raise awareness of our history, we need to have more educational stuff near by, i’d like to see them commissed a walking route with interpative boards and maybe a bit of public art made of roman stuff, and an italian resteraunt and some cultural linsks to rome / italy – maybe twin with an italian village???? I’d recommend too that the public transport routes are improved on here

    look at chester, hadrians wall area or pompeii even, WE MUST MAKE MORE OF OUR ROMAN PAST

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  10. Tory Boy said: Mar 14th, 2009 at 14:49

    waste of moeny

    cut taxes instead

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  11. marco said: Mar 14th, 2009 at 18:05

    This is all a plot to undermine the truth of creationism – the archeologists have been busy manufacturing “fossils” and “ancient artifacts” in thier secret labs – then they hide them underground and “discover” them! Its impossible for a roman city to be expanded! Its all a lie!

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