LONDINIUM TODAY

Basilica and forum

Remains of the pier base at 90 Gracechurch Street

What you can see now:
Sections of the massive ragstone walls have been recorded over the past 100 years and still survive in basements in the Gracechurch Street area. A portion of one of the pier bases of the basilica survives in the basement of a hairdressing shop (Nicholson & Griffin) at 90 Gracechurch Street and can be seen during shop-opening hours. It was one of four piers that revealed that open arcades were a later addition to the south aisle of the basilica.

The basilica, London’s first civic centre, was first built in AD70 on top of the high ground east of the Walbrook stream. The forum, or business centre, formed an enclosure on the other three sides and contained shops, banks and offices with a central market place. The large size of the complex (100 x 50m) matched the scale of London’s expansion. The basilica served as the town hall and law courts and it was there that the local senate, or town council would have met.

Diagram of the earlier forum being superseded by the larger forum and basilica

Plan of the earlier complex being superseded by the larger forum and basilica

Only 20 years later, work began on the second complex that was to be nearly four times larger (170m square) and took 30 years to complete. The earlier forum and basilica remained open for business while the north, east and west walls of the later complex were constructed. The first building was then demolished and the final southern wall completed the later complex. The basilica, the largest to be built north of the Alps, was sited to the north of the forum and its three storeys would have been visible from all parts of the city. It was a large hall with a nave and northern aisle, adjoining which was a double row of offices. At the eastern end would have been the tribune, a raised platform for judges.

The eastern portion lies under the Victorian Leadenhall Market which superseded the medieval market while the western runs across Cornhill, see larger plan.

For further information, see about the Forum and basilica in Public life.

Little remains of the buildings of Londinium as there has been continuous growth and rebuilding since the Roman period. Roman London can lie as much as 6 to 8m (20ft) below present-day ground level. Archaeological excavations and conservation processes now mean that elements can be preserved.

Visible Roman London

Sections of Roman and medieval city wall throughout the City still survive today but medieval repairs and additions often disguise the Roman sections of the wall. The medieval names for the city gates still survive in today's street names.

City wall and gates

For nearly a century the landward wall was considered an adequate defence for Londinium. Then the east and west ends of the landward wall were joined by a new riverside defensive wall that ran approximately on the line of Upper and Lower Thames Street.

Riverside wall

A section of the western fort and the later city wall thickening in addition to the rectangular north tower and central piers for the double gateway of the west gate have been preserved under the road, London Wall.

Fort

Sections of massive ragstone walls have been recorded in the Gracechurch Street area over the past 100 years and still survive in basements. The eastern portion underlies the Victorian Leadenhall Market.

Basilica and forum

The temple was excavated in 1954 and the outline recreated in Roman building materials in Queen Victoria Street as part of the Bucklersbury House development. The office complex is now due for redevelopment and the remains have limited access.

Temple of Mithras

In 1987 the remains of the eastern end of the Roman amphitheatre were uncovered prior to the construction of the Guildhall Art Gallery, comprising two curved stretches of stone wall enclosing part of the arena and the ceremonial eastern entrance into the arena.

Amphitheatre

The remains of the Billingsgate house and baths in Lower Thames Street were first discovered in 1848. The house and baths lie in the basement of an office block and for safety reasons are not accessible to the public.

House and baths at Billingsgate

Much discussion has gone on over the centuries as to the origin of London Stone. It may be Roman, and it has been suggested it was a central milestone from which distances were measured throughout Roman Britain - but there is nothing to prove this.

London Stone

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Living In Roman London

LONDINIUM TODAY

Basilica and forum