Verulamium, St Albans, Hertfordshire
These ruins were part of the 3rd largest city in Roman Britain. The site of Verulamium was first occupied shortly after the invasion by Claudius, when a fort was built to guard the river crossing. This was quickly replaced by a settlement which was granted the status of a 'municipium' in cAD 49. The earliest timber buildings were probably built by army engineers. The town was encircled on three sides by a defensive ditch and on the fourth side by the river. This settlement was destroyed in the Boudiccan revolt of AD 60. Reconstruction was slow and haphazard. A new Forum was built by AD 79. A disastrous fire destroyed at least 52 acres of the town in about AD 155. Reconstruction this time took place in masonry (stone), with a new forum, a theatre and a number of large town houses. Another period of rebuilding took place in about AD 300 with occasional new building during the 4th century. Occupation of the town continued well into the post Roman period but had probably ceased by the mid 6th century. This site is now in the care of English Heritage (2011).
