London’s First Roman Civic Hall Found Under Office Block
Did you know the subterranean remains of a Roman market lie beneath the historic Leadenhall Market in Gracechurch Street near Monument station? That’s 2,000 years of market trading on this City of London spot.
And archaeologists have now unearthed the remains of London’s first Roman basilica or civic hall, which sat on this once busy and lively forum [market square and city centre]. The ancient remains were discovered under the basement of an office block at 85 Gracechurch Street, with the two-year excavation revealing the basilica’s stone foundations.
It’s a significant find considering this basilica and forum was once London’s administrative, political and judicial centre. The three-storey basilica was one of Europe’s largest buildings and spread over a larger area than the present-day St Paul’s Cathedral, with a public square the size of Trafalgar Square. Indeed, the two-hectare forum/basilica was widely recognised as the largest Roman building north of the Alps and of such importance that the all-powerful Provincial Procurator set up there for the first time, after the Boudiccan revolt of 60 AD.
Photograph: Mola
The remains are thought to form part of a raised platform where important proclamations and speeches were made and date back to around 70 AD. The Romans founded Londonium [London] in 47 AD.
The basilica walls were constructed of bulky Kentish ragstone mined in Maidstone and transported along the Thames by boat. Archaeologists also identified horizontal lines of Roman ceramic tiles across the ragstone. These were marked with deliberate and distinctive fingermarks – perhaps the mason’s signature of building quality and project completion.
From 80 – 120 AD, London sprung in size and a larger forum was constructed befitting the status of this formidable Roman province. Roman emperor Hadrian visited Londinium during this period and, no doubt, lodged at the basilica. In 300 AD, the basilica and forum was destroyed by Rome as punishment for Britannia’s [Britain’s] support for a rogue Roman emperor called Carausius.
The find has meant that site developers Hertschten Properties have to rework their construction project to incorporate the ancient remains and allow public viewing. This basement visitor centre awaits planning permission and may not open until 2030.
Nicholson & Griffin barbers, Gracechurch Street
Previously, the only other section of the basilica and forum visible to the public sat in the basement of the Nicholson & Griffin barbers at 90 Gracechurch Street on the corner of Leadenhall Market. Permission to view this fragment of basilica arch had been at the proprietor’s discretion, but the barbers have permanently closed. So, this recent find opens up the Roman site to the public again.
