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Roman Amphitheatres in Britain

Throughout the area covered by the Roman Empire the remains of 320 amphitheatres have been found so far, (click here to see a map showing all locations throughout the roman Empire) of these a scattering of 20 examples are fairly evenly spread over the UK.

For the Romans an amphitheatre was a public performance, spectacle or presentation space, somewhere you could have competitions, sports, performances, perhaps have gladiators perform, and in some cases also a practice area for the military.

Cirencester Amphitheatre, Gloucestershire

An amphitheatre also differed from a Roman Circus or Greek Hippodrome, both of which were used for chariot racing and horse racing and were shaped more like a very long, narrow horse shoe although sometimes fully joined up.

An amphitheatre in a community became a prized symbol of Roman citizenship in the outlying areas of the empire and in some cases there is documented evidence of citizens having made their fortunes financing the development of large amphitheatres, in some cases unnecessarily large, for their home area.

The scale and capabilities of amphitheatre varied, some were fairly simple others had the ability to be flooded and put on shows with boats, to have fountains to cool the air, and more. Some were massive stone structures while some others were wood, and some of the wooden ones collapsed under load injuring very large numbers of people.  Most had seats, in ranks a little like a modern theatre, and many had canopies that could be pulled out or folded away.

Today we can see the remains of several, walking within and climbing on these structures its difficult to imagine them in their original splendour.

Amongst the ones you can visit are:-

Caerleon

Chester www.bwpics.co.uk/amphitheatre.html

Cirencester

Caerleon Amphitheatre

Roman Theatres

In addition to amphitheatres, the Romans had theatres in some places.

The Roman Theatre of Verulamium (St Albans) is unique. Built in about 140AD it is the only example of its kind in Britain, being a theatre with a stage rather than an Amphitheatre. Initially, the arena would have been used for anything from religious processions and dancing, to wrestling, armed combat and wild beast shows. From about 180AD the stage came into greater use and the auditorium extended. By about 300AD, after some redevelopment work, the Theatre could seat 2000 spectators.
The ruin can be explored now. http://www.romantheatre.co.uk/details.html

or see our Location Guide on The Roman Theatre and Verulamium


The full list of remains found of Amphitheatres in Britain:-

Place

Roman place

Country

Notes

Aldborough

Isurium Brigantum

England

 

Baginton

 

England

Lunt Roman Fort  Probably a horse training ground.

Caerleon

Isca Augusta

Wales

Caerleon amphitheatre

Caerwent

Venta Silurum

Wales

 

Caistor St Edmund

Venta Icenorum

England

 

Carmarthen

Moridunum

Wales

 

Charterhouse

Iscalis (?)

England

 

Chester

Deva Victrix

England

Chester Roman Amphitheatre

Chichester

Noviomagus Reginorum

England

 

Cirencester

Corinium Dobunnorum

England

 

Colchester

Camulodunum

England

 

Dorchester

Durnovaria

England

Maumbury Rings

Frilford

 

England

Debated

Inveresk

 

Scotland

 

London

Londinium

England

Guildhall Art Gallery

Newstead

Trimontium

Scotland

 

Richborough

Rutupiae

England

 

Silchester

Calleva Atrebatum

England

 

Tomen-y-Mur

 

Wales

near Llan Ffestiniog

Wroxeter

Viroconium Cornoviorum

England

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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