Last updated on August 23rd, 2023 at 11:32 am
It began with a simple notion, to create a list of Roman place names in Britain, with their modern equivalents. Of course, we do not know what Romans called most of the places they built in Britain, so it then seemed sensible to add random Roman sites to the list. And the list grew; no doubt it will grow some more, but there are about 180 sites listed below so far and that is quite enough to be going with.
ROMAN SITES IN ENGLAND
ROMAN SITES IN SCOTLAND
ROMAN SITES IN WALES
For ease of referral, the list is split into England, Scotland and Wales – although of course none of those places existed until long after Roman rule had ended. The somewhat terse description ‘town’ covers a multitude of possibilities: large towns, small towns, towns formed from pre-Roman settlements (oppida), or based on tribal territories. Most towns grew from forts and many forts had a civilian settlement, or vicus, outside its walls to provide goods and services to the soldiers stationed there. The distribution of forts illustrates the predominantly military nature of Roman rule in the north of the island. Do bear in mind, if you’re organising a tour of Roman places in Britain, that there is often little of the Romans to see at many of them.
ROMAN SITES IN ENGLAND
| MODERN NAME | ROMAN NAME (if known) | WHERE IS IT? | WHAT IS/WAS IT? |
| Alcester | Alauna | Warwickshire | Town |
| Aldborough | Isurium | North Yorkshire | Town |
| Ambleside | Galava | Cumbria | Fort |
| Baginton | Warwickshire | Fort | |
| Bainbridge | Virosidum | North Yorkshire | Fort and settlement |
| Barcombe | East Sussex | Settlement | |
| Bath | Aquae Sulis | Avon | Town |
| Beckhampton | Wiltshire | Road | |
| Benwell | Condercum | Tyne & Wear | Fort |
| Bignor | West Sussex | Villa | |
| Binchester | Vinovia | Durham | Fort |
| Bingham | Margidunum | Nottinghamshire | Settlement |
| Birdoswald | Camboglanna | Cumbria | Fort |
| Bishops Stortford | Hertfordshire | Settlement/Town | |
| Bitterne (Southampton) | Clausentum | Hampshire | Fort |
| Blackgrounds | Northamptonshire | Settlement | |
| Blackstone Edge | West Yorkshire | Road (disputed) | |
| Bowes | Lavatrae | Durham | Fort |
| Bowness-on-Solway | Mais | Cumbria | Fort |
| Brading | Isle of Wight | Villa | |
| Bradwell-on-Sea | Essex | Fort | |
| Bramdean | Hampshire | Villa | |
| Brancaster | Branodunum | Norfolk | Fort |
| Bristol | Abonae Bristol | Avon | Town |
| Brough | Verteris | Cumbria | Fort |
| Brough | Petuaria? | East Riding of Yorkshire | Town |
| Brougham | Brocavum | Cumbria | Fort |
| Bucknowle Farm | Dorset | Villa | |
| Burgh-by-Sands | Aballava | Cumbria | Fort |
| Burgh Castle | Gariannorum | Norfolk | Fort |
| Burghwallis | South Yorkshire | Fort | |
| Burrow in Lonsdale | Calacum or Galacum | Lancashire | Fort |
| Buxton | Aquae Arnemetiae | Derbyshire | Town |
| Caistor | Venta Icenorum | Norfolk | Town |
| Cambridge | Duroliponte | Cambridgeshire | Town |
| Canterbury | Durovernum Cantiacorum | Kent | Town |
| Carisbrooke Castle | Isle of Wight | Fort | |
| Carlisle | Luguvalium | Cumbria | Town |
| Carrawburgh | Brocolitia | Northumberland | Fort and temple |
| Castleshaw | Rigodunum? | Oldham, Manchester | Fort |
| Castlesteads | Cammoglanna | Cumbria | Fort |
| Cawthorn | North Yorkshire | Camps | |
| Cerne Abbas | Dorset | Temple | |
| Chanctonbury Ring | West Sussex | Temple | |
| Charterhouse | Somerset | Mine (lead) | |
| Chedworth | Gloucester | Villa | |
| Chee Tor | Derbyshire | Farm (native British) | |
| Chester | Deva | Cheshire | Town |
| Chester-le-Street | Concangis | Co Durham | Fort |
| Chesterfield | Lvtvdarvm? | Derbyshire | Fort |
| Chesterholm | Vindolanda | Northumberland | Fort |
| Chesters | Cilurnum | Northumberland | Fort |
| Chichester | Noviomagus | West Sussex | Town |
| Chysauster | Gulval (?) | Cornwall | Village (native British) |
| Cirencester | Corinium | Gloucestershire | Town |
| Colchester | Camulodunum | Essex | Town |
| Corbridge | Corstopitum | Northumberland | Fort |
| Crofton | Bromley | Villa | |
| Doncaster | Danum | South Yorkshire | Fort |
| Dorchester | Durnovaria | Dorset | Town |
| Dover | Dubris | Kent | Port |
| Drumburgh | Coggabata | Cumbria | Fort |
| Ebchester | Vindomora | Durham | Fort |
| Exeter | Isca Dumnoniorum | Devon | Town |
| Fishbourne | West Sussex | Palace | |
| Gargrave | North Yorkshire | Fort and villa | |
| Gatcombe | Avon | Villa | |
| Gloucester | Nervia Glevensium | Gloucestershire | Town |
| Goldsborough | North Yorkshire | Signal station | |
| Great Chesters | Aesica | Northumberland | Fort |
| Great Witcombe | Gloucestershire | Villa | |
| Greenhead, Carvoran | Magna | Northumberland | Fort |
| Hadrian’s Wall | Vallum Aelii? | Cumbria/Northumberland | Defensive barrier |
| Hardknott | Mediobogdum | Cumbria | Fort |
| Heronbridge | Cheshire | Settlement | |
| High Rochester | Bremenium | Northumberland | Fort |
| Housesteads | Vercovicium | Northumberland | Fort |
| Ilchester | Lindinis | Somerset | Town |
| Isle of Wight | Vectisins | Isle of Wight | Geographical feature |
| Jordan Hill, Weymouth | Dorset | Temple | |
| Kenchester | Magnis | Herefordshire | Town |
| King’s Weston | Avon | Villa | |
| Kingscote (The Chessells) | Gloucestershire | Town | |
| Kirby Thore | Bravoniacum | Cumbria | Camp |
| Knap Hill | Wiltshire | Camp/Farm | |
| Lancaster | Lancashire | Fort | |
| Lanchester | Longovicium | Durham | Fort |
| Leicester | Ratae Coritanorum | Leicestershire | Town |
| Lincoln | Lindum | Lincolnshire | Town |
| Little Chester, Derby | Derventio Coritanorum | Derbyshire | Town |
| Littlecote | Wiltshire | Villa | |
| London | Londinium | London | Town |
| Low Borrow Bridge (Castlehows, Tebay) | Cumbria | Fort | |
| Lullingstone | Kent | Villa | |
| Lunt | Warwickshire | Fort | |
| Lydney | Gloucestershire | Temple | |
| Metchley | Birmingham | Fort | |
| Malton | Derventio | North Yorkshire | Fort |
| Mancetter |
Manduessedum | Warwickshire | Fort |
| Manchester | Mamucium | Manchester | Fort |
| Maryport | Alavna | Cumbria | Fort |
| Maumbury Rings | Dorset | Amphitheatre | |
| Melandra, Glossop | Ardotalia | Derbyshire | Fort |
| Navio, Brough | Derbyshire | Fort | |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | Pons Aelius | Tyne & Wear | Fort |
| North Leigh | Oxfordshire | Villa | |
| Papcastle (Cockermouth) | Derventio | Cumbria | Fort |
| Pevensey | Anderida | East Sussex | Fort |
| Piercebridge | Magis? | Durham | Bridge & Fort |
| Portchester | Portus Adurni? | Hampshire | Fort |
| Rainster Rocks | Lutodarum? | Derbyshire | Settlement/Mine (lead) |
| Ravenglass | Glannaventa or Itunocelum | Cumbria | Fort/bathhouse |
| Reculver | Regulbium | Kent | Fort |
| Rey Cross | Durham | Camp | |
| Ribchester | Bremetennacum | Lancashire | Fort |
| Richborough | Rutupiae | Kent | Port/Fort |
| Rochester | Durobrivae Cantiacorum | Kent | Town |
| Rockbourne | Hampshire | Villa | |
| Rossington | South Yorkshire | Fort | |
| Silchester | Calleva Atrebatum | Hampshire | Town |
| Slack | Cambodunum? | West Yorkshire | Fort |
| Somerdale, Keynsham | Traiectus? | Avon | Town/Villa |
| South Shields | Arbeia | Tyne & Wear | Fort |
| Southwell | Nottinghamshire | Villa | |
| Springhead, Southfleet |
Vagniacis | Kent | Temple complex/Town |
| Stanwix, Carlisle | Uxelodunum | Cumbria | Fort |
| St Albans | Verulamium | Hertfordshire | Town/Theatre |
| Templeborough, Rotherham |
South Yorkshire | Fort | |
| Thorpe by Newark | Ad Pontem | Nottinghamshire | Fort |
| Towcester | Lactodurum | Northamptonshire | Town |
| Waddon Hill | Dorset | Fort | |
| Wall | Letocetum | Staffordshire | Town |
| Wallsend | Segedunum | Tyne & Wear | Fort |
| Watercrook (Kendal) | Alavana | Cumbria | Fort |
| Water Newton (Peterborough) | Durobrivae | Cambridgeshire | Town |
| Welwyn | Hertfordshire | Bathhouse | |
| Whitley Castle | Northumberland | Fort | |
| Winchester | Venta Belgarum | Hampshire | Town |
| Winscombe | Somerset | Roadside settlement | |
| Worcester | Vertis? | Worcestershire | Town |
| Wroxeter | Viroconium | Shropshire | Town |
| York | Eboracum | North Yorkshire | Town |
ROMAN SITES IN SCOTLAND
| MODERN NAME | ROMAN NAME (if known) | WHERE IS IT? | WHAT IS/WAS IT? |
| Antonine Wall | Firth of Clyde to Firth of Forth | Defensive barrier | |
| Ardoch | Tayside | Fort | |
| Bar Hill, Twechar | Dunbartonshire | Fort | |
| Battledykes, Oathlaw | Angus | Camp | |
| Bearsden | Glasgow | Fort/bathhouse | |
| Bertha | Perth And Kinross | Fort | |
| Birrens | Blatobulgium | Dumfries & Galloway | Fort |
| Bothwellhaugh | North Lanarkshire | Fort | |
| Burnswark | Dumfries & Galloway | Camps (and pre-Roman hill fort) | |
| Cadder | East Dunbartonshire | Fort | |
| Camelon | Falkirk | Fort | |
| Carpow | Perth And Kinross | Fort | |
| Castle Greg | West Lothian | Fort | |
| Castlecary | Falkirk | Fort | |
| Castlehill | East Dunbartonshire | Fort | |
| Croy Hill | North Lanarkshire | Fort | |
| Deers Den | Aberdeenshire | Camp? | |
| Elginhaugh | Midlothian | Fort | |
| Inchtuthill | Perth And Kinross | Fort | |
| Inverquharity | Angus | Fort | |
| Kinneil | Falkirk | Fort | |
| Newstead | Trimontium | Borders | Fort |
| Pennymuir | Borders | Camp | |
| Peterculter, Normandykes | Aberdeenshire | Camp | |
| Raedykes, Garrison Hill | Aberdeenshire | Camp | |
| Rough Castle | Falkirk | Fort | |
| Seabegs Wood | Falkirk | Fort | |
| Strageath | Perth And Kinross | Fort | |
| Westerwood | North Lanarkshire | Fort | |
| Ythan Wells, Glenmailen | Aberdeenshire | Camp |
ROMAN SITES IN WALES
| MODERN NAME | ROMAN NAME (if known) | WHERE IS IT? | WHAT IS/WAS IT? |
| Anglesey | Mona | Anglesey | Geographical feature |
| Brecon Gaer | Powys | Fort | |
| Caer Gai | Gwynedd | Fort | |
| Caer Gybi | Anglesey | Fort | |
| Caerleon | Isca Silurum | Newport | Fort |
| Caernarfon | Segontium | Gwynedd | Fort |
| Caerwent | Venta Silurum | Monmouthshire | Town |
| Cardiff | South Glamorgan | Fort | |
| Carmarthenshire | Moridunum | Carmarthenshire | Town |
| Castell Collen | Powys | Fort | |
| Din Lligwy | Anglesey | Farm (native British) | |
| Dolaucothi | Carmarthenshire | Mine (gold) | |
| Forden Gaer | Levobrinta | Powys | Fort |
| Gelligaer | Caerphilly | Fort | |
| Neath | Nidum | Port Talbot | Fort |
| Trecastle | Powys | Camp |
The initial source for the above list was Keith Branigan’s ‘Roman Britain’, which although a little outdated, is pitched at about the right level for me and can probably still be found in decent second-hand bookshop as well as on Amazon. The Ordnance Survey’s fascinating map of Roman Britain must be the comprehensive source for Roman sites and is available from good bookshops, OS and Amazon.
Fantastic list.
If I may add to it Segedunum, Wallsend at the eastern end of Hadrian’s Wall.
The remains of the fort and several reconstructions are on view.
Thanks, Pete 🙂 . And thanks for the nudge about Segedunum – having visited and written about it, I can’t believe I left it out. Now corrected – and here’s the article if you’re interested – https://bitaboutbritain.com/segedunum-the-end-of-the-wall/
Thank you for the reply. Have just read the article. Also the article regarding Wroxeter, very informative.
Living in ‘Wall Country’ may I suggest the following to add to your list:
Chester-le-Street (Concangis) fort.
Very little remains of the fort. A church, with some Roman inscription stones/ alters, built over the principia headquarters building. Some foundations available.
Hexham, not a Roman site, but stones from The Wall and other sites reused in crypt of Hexham Abbey. Good to see how readily available dressed stone was reused and a great place to visit!
Thanks again; I have added Chester-le-Street. Maybe I should simply sit down and go through a map! You probably know that dressed stone was often reused – too good to waste, I guess. At Brougham Castle in Cumbria, there’s a Roman grave marker reused on a stairwell – https://bitaboutbritain.com/brougham-castle/
If you like altars, have you visited Senhouse Roman Museum in Maryport?
No, I’ve not managed to visit any Roman sites on the west coast.
So many places, so little time!
Have you tried The Great North Museum@Hancock, Newcastle upon Tyne?
Full length model of the wall plus lots of altars, statues, armour and all things Roman. Full floor of exhibits. Also exhibits from Bronze Age British north of the wall. Well worth a days visit.
For a list of Northern Roman sites try Collingwood Bruce’s Handbook to The Roman Wall. It’s the definitive guide to the wall by the Society of Antiquaries, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Very helpful site. Thank you, but could you include Doncaster (Danum).
Thanks, Angela – done!
Fascinating lists, Mike.
They are, Clare; but I keep adding to them – surely, there is a finite number..?!
There must be… surely?!
What an amazing list … well done Mike.
All the best Jan
Thank you, Jan; it seems to be growing!
Hi Mike – I think this a brilliant addition to your site – and I love the derivations of names … and have often thought about and intended to write some up … perhaps one day … but lots of alternatives here … well done – great idea. Take care – Hilary
Thanks, Hilary. I find place names really interesting – and have listened!
This ex pat appreciates this
That’s great to hear – thanks for dropping in!
I did some random research on Hadrian’s wall and ended up on British Museum’s site: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_2005-1204-1. The llam pan mentions a few forts that I do not recall seeing in your list? (sorry, I am using mobile app so harder to read and search stuff properly) The site also lists bibliographic references that you can potentially use for further research. If I am ever bored and end up finding stuff that you are missing, I will send it your way for you to verify. Always good to be two in research to double check everything. (I did a degree in Classics if that explains my interest in the field..)
Hi Phoebe. Thanks for that – I’ve added those in, plus a few more for good measure. It wasn’t the intention to list every Roman site in Britain, though I can see it ending up that way! Of course, there will be individual sites within towns – I have simply listed the towns. There are articles about several Roman sites on the website, if you’re interested.
You are welcome! I do think it is important to list every Roman site in Britain, especially major cities that you already have and ones mentioned in artefacts or other written records by ancient writers. At least we have concrete proof they existed and studied by contemporary researchers. For sure. I will take a look at your Roman site articles when Bun is not hoarding all my time.
Why have you got the Neath camp at Port Talbot? The Neath camp was where Dwr y Felin Comp is now and that is Neath and not Port Talbot.
Hi Stephen, thanks for your comment. Neath fort (Nidum) is of course in Neath, partly under the school as you say. The ‘where’ column obviously just provides a general guide – the county or local authority – and I understand that Neath’s local unitary authority is Port Talbot. Here is the Coflein listing for you. The whole exercise is simply intended to provide an interesting list, not any great detail; maybe I’ll get round to that one day! All the best.
More great stuff Mike, but keep up! There hasn’t been a Dyfed since 1996!
David in Pembrokeshire!
Woops! Thank you, David.
I remember a junior school visit to St. Albans and how the remains of the walls impressed me. That started an interest in Roman Britain encouraged by my father who gave me the Ordnance Survey map.
If people are visiting Hadrian’s Wall then can i suggest they stay at Four Wynds who have a couple of luxurious ‘pods’….Catherine Jarvis there has an unrivalled store of knowledge about the wall. https://www.hadriansholidays.com/
I think my intro may have been via Portchester Castle – or it could have been the Ladybird book of Julius Caesar and Roman Britain! Thanks for the suggestion – looks interesting!
More extensive research, Mike
You’re telling me, Derrick! 🙂
It is interesting how many of the places were used as forts.
On a somewhat unrelated note (it has to do with the list above not including Northern Ireland), and perhaps you have written about this before. What is your take on the differences between the U.K. and Great Britain, and when and why did such differences arise?
Thanks, Jim. Well, of course forts were the default construction initially. Northern Ireland hasn’t been included because the Romans never conquered Ireland (Hibernia) and it isn’t part of Britain, though of course NI is part of the UK. This article – What does ‘Britain’ mean? – will answer some of your questions. When and why are quite big questions. But I can recommend an excellent book about British History 🙂 – and there are timelines and articles on the website too. If that doesn’t help, please get back to me – drop me an email, if that’s easier.
Thanks for that link, Mike. That was helpful, and, confusing as well 🙂
Let me know what the confusion is, Jim, and I’ll try to help!
Since I am 100% Irish, I guess I should read up on the history of Ireland. Always seemed strange that it was a divided country…
Now, that IS a big debate!
I’m sure it is… My mom was born in Ireland, and so was my Dad’s mom…
Impressive, thanks for listing these locations and names. Makes me want to read about them.
Thanks, Tina. Must admit, I wanted to take the list further..!
This is fantastic, Mike! Something to get my teeth into, and a really useful gathering of Roman. Once more, we’d been looking forward to going back to Vindolanda in Northumberland his year, but that’s going to have to wait until next year now. Great stuff, though, and more than enough to keep my busy in the meantime! 🙂
Thanks, Alli – Vindolanda’s been on my list for awhile – it looks fascinating – love the very human reminders they keep finding there.
Oh it’s fascinating, Mike. There’s the Roman museum and the site itself. They do live archaeological digs there every summer (not this one, though, of course) and it’s amazing the stuff they find. It’s all superbly done and well worth a visit. 🙂
What brilliant lists!
Thank you, Sue!
Thanks for this
My pleasure 🙂
To those of us non-Latin speakers, it would be illuminating to have a column of translations of the Roman names to help us understand whether those meanings might be recognizable today. Also, I’m curious as to the survival of Norse names in Britain since they were such an influence at one point in time.
Place names – thanks, Mark – a wonderful topic and a huge one! But you can be pretty sure that anything with ‘chester’, or ‘caster’ in it was probably a Roman fort at one time. Norse and Danish names are common in the North and East of England – I want to write an article touching on this; watch this space! As you say, hugely influential.
Odd to think of Silchester in Hampshire as it is so near Reading in Berkshire. Well worth the visit though. Need to visit North Leigh as well
I’ve yet to visit either, Bill – so many places, so little time!
Who would have known – It turns out I live in Nuovum Eboracum
Actually not true, I work there and live outside. Well I used to work there until COVID hit. Now I am working remotely from somewhere not a thousand leagues from Nuovum Eboracum.
I guess that would be not a thousand leagues as the centurian marches.
Felix Dies!
Illud iterum dicere potes!
I’ve lived in Arbeia and Verlamium, can’t pronounce them though 😉
I’ve actually been to both of those; Verlamium is warmer 🙂
Yes that’s true. The museum there is wonderful, and I have lost all my photos of it.
It is. Round your way, I thought the history of Segedunum was simply wonderful.
Verulamium must have been an important city in Roman Britain. St Albans still used that name (in different contexts) when I lived there.
I think it was the capital city at one time.
I had to research some Roman names for my historical novel set in Roman Britain. Thank goodness my characters didn’t travel too far!
The Roman Empire was an incredibly cosmopolitan place. Personal names, or place names?
Lovely to see Great Witcombe on the list. I was there on Monday and it was my first long distance outing in three months.
Here’s another one for you to add. Southampton was Clausentum … sort of. The Saxons, and everyone else until quite recently, preferred the other side of the River Itchen.
I’ve had another look and see that Clausentum does feature and it probably was where Bitterne is today. Bitterne, though, is an area of Southampton and the latter is probably more widely known.
It is – I’ll make it clearer. Thanks, April.