Roman Sites to visit in South West England

Roman Dorchester, known as Durnovaria, was an important town in Roman Britain, thriving as a center of trade, administration, and daily life. Built along the Fosse Way, it featured baths, houses, shops, and an amphitheater, with remnants still visible today.

Dorchester’s Roman Town House is a must for history enthusiasts, as it is the best-preserved example of its kind in Britain. Discovered in the 1930s, this fascinating site offers a glimpse into Roman domestic life, with its well-preserved mosaic floors, hypocaust heating system, and stone walls still visible today. The site is free to visit, with informative display panels that explain the layout and history of the house. Walking through the remains, you can imagine how a wealthy Roman family once lived in this elegant home in Durnovaria, as Dorchester was known in Roman times.

For a deeper dive into the town’s history, the Dorset County Museum houses an impressive collection of Roman artifacts from across the region. Here, visitors can see intricately designed mosaics, pottery, tools, jewelry, and coins that paint a vivid picture of life in Roman Britain. The museum also features reconstructed Roman rooms and interactive exhibits, making it an engaging experience for all ages.

A short walk from the museum leads to Maumbury Rings, a prehistoric henge later transformed into a Roman amphitheater. This open-air structure once hosted gladiator fights, military exercises, and public gatherings. The large earthwork still retains its impressive scale, and standing at its center, you can imagine the roar of the Roman crowds. Today, it serves as a peaceful public space and even hosts occasional events, continuing its tradition as a place of entertainment.

Isca Dumnoniorum, modern-day Exeter, was originally a Roman fortress built around AD 55 for the Second Augustan Legion. Over time, it evolved into the civitas capital of the Dumnonii tribe, serving as a major administrative and trading center. The city’s Roman walls, which still survive in part, marked the town’s boundaries, while its name derives from the Brittonic word for water, referencing the River Exe.

The fortress housed barracks, granaries, and a military bathhouse, with an aqueduct supplying water from a nearby spring. Once the legion moved to Caerleon around AD 75, Isca transitioned into a civilian settlement. The former bathhouse was repurposed, and a forum and basilica were constructed. By the late 2nd century, the town had expanded, with copper and bronze industries developing, alongside a thriving market for livestock, crops, and pottery.

Isca’s prosperity peaked in the early 4th century, as indicated by the abundance of Roman coins found in the area. However, after AD 380, evidence of economic activity dwindles, suggesting a rapid decline. Despite this, its Roman legacy remains evident in Exeter’s surviving walls, archaeological discoveries, and layout, offering a glimpse into its rich past as a key site in Roman Britain.

Charterhouse was a Roman-British mining settlement in Somerset, England, near an Iron Age hill fort called Charterhouse Camp. Its Roman name is uncertain but may have been Iscalis or Vebriacum. The site, now a scheduled monument, developed around lead and silver mines exploited by the Romans, with extraction possibly beginning as early as AD 49. Initially controlled by the Roman military, mining later passed to civilian operations due to the low silver content.

The settlement included industrial workshops for on-site smelting and a small fortlet for storing lead. A road connected it to the Fosse Way, with metal likely exported via an inland port at Cheddar. A notable feature is the amphitheatre, the only one in England linked to a lead mine, likely serving as entertainment for soldiers.

Hod Hill, captured by the Romans in AD 43 or 44, is unique as it features a Roman fort built within Iron Age defences. The Romans cleared part of the earlier settlement and constructed their fortress in the north-west corner. The defensive earthworks included multiple ditches and a rampart made of turf and chalk. The fort had two gates: a timber-built east gate with flanking towers and a single-towered south gate.

The fort was designed for a mixed cavalry and infantry garrison, with barrack buildings arranged in parallel lines. It housed separate commandant residences for both the praefectus equitum (cavalry commander) and the infantry leader. The discovery of burnt remains suggests that some structures were destroyed by fire, with weapons found in place as if left behind during a sudden event, rather than an intentional destruction.

A Roman breach created the north-west entrance, reinforcing the fort’s strategic importance. The garrison of around 850 men relied on large chalk-cut cisterns for water storage, with one excavated tank estimated to hold 1,900 gallons. Eventually, the Romans dismantled parts of the fort, but the earthworks remain, showcasing the fusion of Iron Age and Roman military architecture.

The Jordan Hill Roman Temple is a Romano-Celtic temple and Roman ruin located above Bowleaze Cove in Weymouth, Dorset. Excavations from 1843–46 and 1931–32 suggest it was in use from AD 69–79 to the late 4th century. Artefacts from the site, including coins, ceramics, and animal bones, are housed in the Dorset Museum and the British Museum. Nearby, Preston Roman Villa adds to the area’s rich Roman history.

The temple followed a Romano-British design, featuring a square building within a courtyard or precinct measuring 84 square metres. Evidence suggests it may have also functioned as a late 4th-century signal station. The site contains a cemetery with both cremations and inhumations, and the missing ambulatory is likely due to later stone robbing.

Now under English Heritage, the temple was entrusted to the state in 1933 and designated a Scheduled Monument in 1981. Free public access allows visitors to explore the site while enjoying scenic views over Bowleaze Cove.

Littlecote Roman Villa, located near Hungerford, Berkshire, is a significant Roman villa complex with an associated religious centre. Originally discovered in 1727–28, the famous Orpheus mosaic was unearthed but later forgotten until its rediscovery in 1976. Excavations continued until 1991, revealing that the villa once had around 60 rooms, multiple bath suites, and extensive mosaics. A key feature is the triconch-form building, thought to be a cult centre for Bacchus and Apollo, linking it to the pagan revival under Emperor Julian.

The villa evolved from a small military site in the 1st century AD into a grand, enclosed complex by the 4th century, featuring heated rooms, mosaics, and an elaborate gatehouse. Over time, farming ceased, and the site transitioned into a religious centre, possibly for pilgrims. The Orpheus Hall, built in 360 AD, supports this theory, with its mosaic linking to Greek mythology and mystery cults.

By 400 AD, following Roman laws against paganism, the site declined and was abandoned, with some sub-Roman timber structures appearing. Today, the villa is open to the public, showcasing its well-preserved remains and rich Roman heritage.

Visiting Brading Roman Villa offers a fascinating journey into Britain’s Roman past. Nestled in the Isle of Wight’s scenic countryside, the site showcases well-preserved remains of a grand Roman courtyard villa, complete with intricate mosaics, artifacts, and reconstructed features. The modern Exhibition and Visitor Centre enhances the experience with informative displays, interactive exhibits, and a café where visitors can relax after exploring the ruins. Strolling through the site, you can admire the stunning mosaic floors, including the famous cockerel-headed man, and learn about Roman life, from their luxurious homes to daily activities. Outside, a reconstructed Roman garden and an amphitheater made from excavation spoil add to the immersive experience. Whether you’re a history enthusiast or just curious about the ancient world, Brading Roman Villa provides a unique and engaging glimpse into life in Roman Britain.

Newport Roman Villa, located near Newport on the Isle of Wight, was built around 280 AD as a Romano-British farmhouse. It was discovered in 1926 during the construction of garage foundations and excavated to reveal the villa’s ground plan. Alderman John Curtis Millgate proposed preserving the site, and after the town council declined, he personally purchased the site and built a structure over it. After Millgate’s death in 1956, his daughter, Grace Millgate, offered the site to the council, but it was not accepted until 1960, when the Isle of Wight County Council took ownership.

The villa was constructed using local stone and featured a well-preserved Roman bath suite with hypocaust underfloor heating. Evidence such as glazed windows and painted wall plaster suggests it was a wealthy estate. The villa’s abandonment remains uncertain, with theories ranging from economic hardship to raids. A woman’s skull found at the site raised speculation of a violent end.

The villa has been reconstructed and includes a Roman kitchen and garden. It is now a public museum, attracting thousands of visitors each year. In 2009, a roof replacement project was carried out to protect the site and improve environmental conditions.

Rockbourne Roman Villa, located near the village of Rockbourne in Hampshire, England, is a significant archaeological site that offers insights into Roman life in Britain. Discovered in 1942 by a local farmer, the villa was extensively excavated by A. T. Morley Hewitt from 1956 to 1978. The site features a large residence with luxurious mosaics and bath suites, surrounded by farm buildings and workshops, indicating it was the center of a large farming estate. The villa’s origins date back to the Iron Age, and it was occupied until the 5th century.

The villa underwent several phases of development. Initially, a timber roundhouse was replaced by a small stone house in the 1st century. By the 2nd century, a larger row-house and a bath suite were added. The 3rd century saw the expansion into a courtyard villa with additional ranges and buildings, including a detached bath house and geometric mosaic floors. A hoard of 7,717 bronze coins buried around 295 AD suggests possible troubled times.

In the 4th century, the villa was a large courtyard complex with around 40 rooms. However, by the early 5th century, the villa declined rapidly, with some mosaics broken up and rudimentary hearths placed on floors. Postholes indicate attempts to prop up roofs, and adult burials from this period suggest a post-Roman occupation.

Today, the site is managed by Hampshire County Council, with many finds displayed in an on-site museum. Notable artifacts include Roman milestones and a carved stone table. In 2014, ownership was transferred to the Hampshire Cultural Trust.

Maiden Castle is an Iron Age hillfort located 1.6 miles southwest of Dorchester in Dorset, England. Initially, the site featured a Neolithic causewayed enclosure and a bank barrow. By 1800 BC, it was used for crop cultivation but was abandoned during the Bronze Age. Around 600 BC, Maiden Castle was established as a hillfort, initially covering 16 acres, before being expanded around 450 BC to become the largest hillfort in Britain, spanning 47 acres with complex ramparts and ditches.

Habitation declined by 100 BC, but the site remained occupied until the Roman period when it became part of the Durotriges’ territory. After the Roman conquest in the 1st century AD, the site was likely abandoned, though the Romans may have had a military presence there. In the late 4th century AD, a temple was built, but by the 6th century AD, the hilltop was abandoned and used for agriculture during the medieval period.

Maiden Castle has inspired composers and writers, and its archaeological study was popularized by figures like Augustus Pitt Rivers and Mortimer Wheeler. It is now a protected site maintained by English Heritage.

Chysauster Ancient Village is a late Iron Age and Romano-British settlement in Cornwall, England, managed by English Heritage. Inhabited from around 100 BC to the 3rd century AD, it consisted of eight to ten courtyard houses, each with a central open space surrounded by thatched rooms. The village was agricultural, likely occupied by the Dumnonii tribe, and unfortified. A nearby field system indicates farming activity.

Located 5 km north of Penzance at 175 m above sea level, Chysauster has been excavated multiple times, including by William Copeland Borlase in 1873, with some reconstruction efforts. A fogou (underground passage) lies to the south of the settlement, though its function remains unclear. Originally over 16 meters long, it was sealed in the late 20th century for safety.

Carn Euny, Cornwall, is a remote settlement of Romano-British stone houses located near Land’s End. Excavations from 1964-1972 revealed activity dating back to the 5th century BC, with structures from the 2nd-4th centuries AD. The site includes around ten stone houses, some with oval shapes and central courtyards.

A notable feature is the fogou, a unique granite-lined underground tunnel, possibly used for storage, refuge, or religious purposes. The well-preserved Carn Euny fogou was discovered in the 1840s by tin miners and later excavated. It has a sinuous passage, a beehive-shaped chamber, and a corbelled roof.

The ruins were later used as pigsties and gardens, with remains of an 18th-century cottage still visible. Two ancient wells to the west are believed to have healing properties and are adorned with offerings.