Glevum
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Glevum (or, more formally, Colonia Nervia Glevensium, or occasionally Glouvia) was a Roman fort in Roman Britain. Today it is known as Gloucester, located in the English county of Gloucestershire. The name Glevum is taken by many present day businesses in the area and also by the 26-mile Glevum Way,¹ a long-distance footpath or recreational walk encircling modern Gloucester. [1]

Fortress

Glevum was established around AD 48 as a market centre at an important crossing of the River Severn and near to the Fosse Way one of the important Roman roads in Britain. Initially, there was a Roman fort established at Kingsholm. Twenty years later, a larger replacement fortress was built on slightly higher ground nearby, centred on Gloucester Cross, and a civilian settlement grew around it. The Roman Legion based here was the Legio II Augusta as they prepared to invade Roman Wales between 66 and 74 AD, later being based at Burrium (Usk) and Isca Augusta (Caerleon) in South Wales.

Colonia

In AD 97, the whole area was designated a colonia by the Emperor Nerva. A colonia was the residence of retired legionaries and enjoyed the highest status in the Empire. The legionaries were given farmland in the surrounding district and could be called upon as a Roman auxiliary armed force.

A large and impressive administrative basilica and forum market-place was built in the town and there were many fine homes with mosaic floors. At its height, Glevum may have had a population of as many as 7,000 people.

Decline

Excavations at the New Market Hall showed that Romano-British occupation of the town may have continued in some form into the sub-Roman period. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records a King Cynfael, who may have come from Gloucester, taking part in the Battle of Dyrham in 577.

Remains

• Many archaeological artefacts and some in situ walls from Roman Glevum may be seen in the Gloucester City Museum
• The remains of the Roman and medieval East Gate are on display in the East Gate Chamber on Eastgate Street.
• There is a small display in the Royal Bank of Scotland on Roman finds from the site
• Northgate, Southgate, Eastgate and Westgate Streets all follow the line of their original Roman counterparts, although Westgate Street has moved slightly north and Southgate Street now extends through the site of the Roman basilica.
• A statue of the Emperor Nerva was erected in the city in 1997

References

External links

• Gloucester City Council Museum & Art Gallery homepage
• Gloucester City Council The Romans AD43-577
• Daily Telegraph 30/04/08 Mass Roman grave found in Gloucester
• Glevum on Roman Britain website