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Towns in Roman Britain

After the invasion, the Romans built new towns across Britain, such as Londinium (London), Verulamium (St Albans) and Corinium (Cirencester). Unlike the scattered Celtic settlements that came before them, Roman towns were carefully planned. Their streets were laid out in a grid of straight lines crossing at right angles, dividing the town into blocks. At the centre was the forum, a large open square used as a marketplace and meeting place, with shops and offices around its sides.

On one side of the forum stood the basilica, a long, tall building that served as the town hall and law court, where officials met and disputes were settled. Nearby were temples to Roman gods such as Jupiter and Minerva, where people made offerings and prayed. Most towns also had public baths, a place to wash, exercise and meet friends. Bathers moved through a warm room, a hot room heated by a hypocaust under the floor, and a cold plunge pool.

Along the streets, ordinary people lived and worked in narrow buildings, with a shop or workshop facing the road and living rooms behind or above. Just outside some towns was an amphitheatre, an oval arena with banks of seats where crowds gathered to watch shows. Many towns were later surrounded by strong stone walls with towers and gateways, which protected the people inside and controlled who could come and go.