Roman arcades of temple of Claudius discovered | Photo: RMR Freelance Art/Archant/Alamy
The ruins of the 120m long Roman arcade – the longest in Britain – were found in 2016 in Colchester during excavation work prior to the construction of new apartments.
The arcade was built in the 1st or early 2nd century CE after the city was destroyed during the Boudica uprising. The arcade consisted of a covered walkway, closed by a line of arches on both sides, which gave shelter to pedestrians. The structure was created as a frontal element of the Temple of Claudius, which was built 50 years earlier.
During the rebellion in 60 CE, Boudica had a temple erected where the people of Colchester could take refuge. Later, the arcades were erected by the Romans as an attempt to rebuild the centre and as a symbol of the restoration of Roman rule in eastern Britain. The arcades consisted of 28 arches, and in the centre was the main gate.
In fact, the first discovery of the building was made in 1931. Then the central gate was found. Some of the arcades were discovered in 1954 and then in 1964. However, only the latest discovery by archaeologists confirmed how large the structure they are really dealing with.
Colchester was the first Roman city in Britain to be born as a colony for retired veterans.
- Patrick Sawer, Remains of 'extraordinary' Roman arcade found in Colchester, "The Telegraph", 11.02.2016
