The Roman town at Wall (Letocetum) began as a marching camp as the Romans extended their conquest of Britain, north and west. It was built by the 14th Legion (legio XIV Gemina) in around 50 AD, just a few years after the invasion of 43 AD. It was a staging post along Watling Street, from the port of Richborough in Kent, then onto Wroxteter, Chester – and the far north. The first fort was replaced by two subsequent forts, and a civilian settlement grew around the military bases. The forts were abandoned sometime around 130 AD, but the settlement continued to flourish with traders, potters, tanners, dyers, metalworkers and the like, until the 4th century when it began to decline. The focus of the town may have shifted to Lichfield, although it is also possible that some kind of settlement continued at Wall after the Roman period. A Welsh poem refers to a raid on Wall (Caer Luydcoed) by a 5th or 6th century chieftain called Moriael or Ercall.
Most of the stonework from the town would have been reused elsewhere. The visible remains include those of the bath complex and those of a two-storey mansio, or hostel, with a courtyard and a street with shops. There is also a small museum and a heritage walk.