Editing Gloucester (section)

===Roman Gloucester===
{{See also|Glevum}}

Glevum was established around AD 48 at an important crossing of the River Severn and near to the [[Fosse Way]], the early front line after the Roman invasion of Britain. Initially, a Roman fort was established at present-day Kingsholm. Twenty years later, a larger legionary fortress was built on slightly higher ground nearby, centred on present-day Gloucester Cross, and a civilian settlement grew around it. Probably the Roman Legion [[Legio XX Valeria Victrix|XX Valeria Victrix]] was based here until 66 and then [[Legio II Augusta]]<ref>G Webster, Rome against Caractacus, p 45, {{isbn|978-0415239875}}</ref> as they prepared to invade Roman Wales between 66 and 74 AD, who stayed later until around 87.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=http://www.gadarg.org.uk/essays/e001.htm |title=GADARG – Essay 1 |access-date=9 June 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927074540/http://www.gadarg.org.uk/essays/e001.htm |archive-date=27 September 2011}} The colonia of Glevum</ref>

Gloucester became a ''[[Colonia (Roman)|Colonia]]'' in 97 as ''Colonia Nervia Glevensium'', or ''Glevum'', in the reign of [[Nerva]]. It is likely that Glevum became the provincial capital of [[Britannia Prima]].<ref name="auto"/>

Within about 15 years new privately constructed properties replaced the earlier barracks and public buildings, temples and bath houses were under construction in stone. Piped water began to be supplied. Drains and sewers were laid. On the site of the legionary ''principia'' an imposing central ''[[Forum (Roman)|forum]]'' was laid out surrounded by colonnades and flanked on three sides by part-timbered ranges of shops. Closing off the south of the forum was the 100m x 40m [[Basilica]]. Many fine homes with [[mosaic]] floors were built in the town.

At its height, Glevum may have had a population of as many as 10,000 people. The entire area around Glevum was intensely Romanised in the second and third centuries with a higher than normal distribution of villas.

At the end of the third century or the start of the fourth, major changes were made to the city's second-century wall. It was replaced in two stages by a stronger and higher one of stone resting on massive reused stone blocks. In the second stage, the blocks rested on deep timber foundation piles. Stone external towers were added; two parallel wide ditches were also cut in front of the new walls.

Remains of the Roman city can still be seen:<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk/community/discover-the-past/archaeology-in-your-area/gloscat/ |title=Excavating Roman Gloucester |access-date=14 October 2020 |archive-date=23 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923133508/https://cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk/community/discover-the-past/archaeology-in-your-area/gloscat/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gloucesterarchaeologicalpublications.co.uk/ |title=Gloucester Archaeological Publications |website=Gloucester Archaeological Publications |access-date=14 October 2020 |archive-date=16 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016032419/https://www.gloucesterarchaeologicalpublications.co.uk/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
*Many archaeological artifacts and some in-situ walls in the Gloucester City Museum & Art Gallery
*The remains of the Roman and mediaeval East Gate in the East Gate Chamber on Eastgate Street.
*Northgate, Southgate, Eastgate and Westgate Streets all follow the line of their original Roman counterparts, although Westgate Street has moved slightly north and Southgate Street now extends through the site of the Roman basilica.