Site of the roman city of Verulamium (St Albans)

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Major Roman city on the river Ver, remains include a hypocaust and city walls.

Verulamium was the third largest city in Roman Britain. It was sited to the south west of the modern city of St Albans in Hertfordshire, on what is now park and agricultural land, though parts have been built upon. A large portion of the city still awaits excavation by future generations of archaeologists.

Before the Romans it was known as Verlamion, (meaning 'settlement above the marsh') the capital of the Catuvellauni tribe. The settlement was established by their leader Tasciovanus. In this pre-Roman form it was among the first places in Britain recorded by name. It was built beside the River Ver.

The Roman settlement was granted the rank of municipium in c. AD 50, meaning its citizens had all the rights of a citizen of Rome. It grew to a significant town, despite the attentions of Boudica of the Iceni in AD 61. It grew steadily —by the early 200s it covered an area of about 125 acres (0.5 km²), behind a deep ditch and wall. It had a forum, basilica and a theatre, most of which were destroyed during two fires, one in AD 155 and the other around AD 250. One of the few extant Roman inscriptions in Britain is found on the remnants of the forum; see Verulamium Forum inscription. The town was rebuilt in stone rather than timber at least twice over the next 150 years. Occupation by the Romans ended between 450 and 500.

The modern city (which was originally called Verlamchester) takes its name from Alban, a citizen of Verulamium who was condemned to death in the 3rd century for sheltering a Christian priest who converted him to Christianity, and who became the first British Christian martyr.

The asteroid 4206 Verulamium was named in honour of the ancient city.

www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/Sites/Roman-Town