Liverpool has always been at the centre of important historical developments.
From being the prime trading port of a global empire to a hub for the world’s most acclaimed musicians, the city is no stranger to earth-shaking events. While many people’s ideas of Liverpool and the surrounding area tend to begin at around the 19th century, when it was first awarded city status, the historical roots of the region go back much farther.
Over the years there have been numerous excavations and discoveries which have indicated the geopolitical significance of Merseyside during the era of Roman occupation, almost two millennia ago. For those looking to explore the fascinating history of the Romans, Liverpool and beyond has plenty to offer. Here’s where to go.
World Museum, Liverpool
If you’d rather not stray beyond the city limits, the World Museum – www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/wml/collections/antiquities/roman/ – in the city centre has more than enough to get you started. The award-winning museum has an artefacts collection containing over 2000 items from Ancient Rome, including hundreds of items uncovered right here in England.
The fascinating collections was amassed by the wealthy Victorian merchant Henry Blundell, and donated to the museum in 1995. It is by far the largest collection of antiquities outside of the British Museum in London, containing Roman weaponry, jewels, home decorations, and tools. Definitely a great way to spend an afternoon.
Chester Roman Amphitheatre, Cheshire
The jaw-dropping Roman amphitheatre in the centre of Chester is the oldest discovered yet in the UK. The colossal structure was most likely used for combat sports, including the deadly gladiator fights which are such a famous legacy of Roman culture. Hundreds of thousands of people a year flock to this fascinating site to try and reimagine what those brutal fights were like, in the same way that people continue to engage with gladiator culture through films like Gladiator and more recently, the Centurion slots game at Paddy Power, on https://games.paddypower.com/game/centurion-gip.
Chester Roman Gardens, Cheshire
While you’re in town, round-off your Roman Holiday with a trip to the Roman Gardens, http://www.cheshirenow.co.uk/roman_gardens.htm. Although not an actual authentic garden, the site has been designed exactly as you would have seen a genuine garden with a wealthy Roman’s villa.
The site contains hundreds of authentic Roman artefacts which have been unearthed from the nearby Fortress of Deva, and pieces continue to be added to it regularly.
Mamucium, Manchester
Although a little bit more of a trek, a day spent at Mamucium (http://roman-britain.co.uk/places/mamucium.htm) is the ultimate crash-course in Roman culture. Located in the inner-city area of Castlefield, this genuine Roman fort was home to a sizeable settlement of Romans during the conquest of Brittania in the first century AD.
The actual site is enormous, containing the remains of a temple, storehouse, barracks and family accommodation. The best part is you can enter the site for free, which should more than make up for the train fare to Manchester.
The history of the Romans in Britain is one that continues to fascinate and perplex us, and the appetite for exploring this historical chapter more closely continues to grow. Luckily, those of us in Merseyside have plenty of amazing options for doing so.