Cirencester Amphitheatre

The remains of the Roman amphitheatre at Cirencester, in 2002

Cirencester Amphitheatre was a Roman amphitheatre located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England.[1] It has been scheduled as an ancient monument.[2]

Archeological digs have uncovered the earthworks, revealing the outline of the construction, which is still visible, with the banking reaching 25 feet from the bottom of the arena.[1] The arena itself is approximately 150 feet (46 m) by 135 feet (41 m).[3] Roman artefacts including coins and pottery have been discovered on the site.[4] It is estimated that it was constructed towards the beginning of the 2nd century.[1]

In Roman Britain, Cirencester was known as Corinium Dobunnorum, and was the second biggest town in Britannia, after Londinium (London).[1] This amphitheatre is also the second largest, which indicates the significance of the location in Roman times.[1] Although only slightly larger in diameter than the amphitheatre in Silchester, it has much higher sides.[5] The earthworks show evidence of tiered wooden seats for around 8000 people,[6] placed upon terraces made of stone,[1] although a timber only structure may have existed before the 2nd century.[7] There are two entrances, located at the North-Eastern and South-Western ends of the stadium.[1]

During the 5th century, when the Western Roman Empire was under attack and soldiers returned to Rome to defend it, the amphitheatre was fortified to defend against the invading Saxons.[1][8] Wooden structures were erected within the arena itself, placed in postholes, and a portion of the North-Eastern entrance was blocked.[4][9]

Unlike other amphitheatres, it is aligned in parallel to the streets of the town itself.[10]

It has also been referred to as the 'Bull Ring', because the sport of bull-baiting used to take place there.[11]

In 2012 plans were announced by the Cirencester Town Council to improve access and signage at the site.[12] Further plans for a visitor centre and car park followed in 2014.[13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Lord Montagu of Beaulieu (1987), P.H. Reed, ed., English Heritage, Hampstead Road, London: English Heritage / Macdonald Queen Anne Press, p. 31, ISBN 0-356-12773-7
  2. ↑ "Long Barrow and Roman Amphitheatre and cemetery". Historic England. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  3. ↑ Joan Liversidge (1968), Britain in the Roman Empire, Volume 1968, Part 2, Routledge & K. Paul, p. 377
  4. 1 2 C. J. Arnold (1984), Roman Britain to Saxon England: an archaeological study, Routledge, p. 37, ISBN 978-0-7099-0513-4
  5. ↑ Michael Gordon Fulford, The Silchester amphitheatre: excavations of 1979-85, Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1989, ISBN 978-0-907764-12-0
  6. ↑ "Cirencester Amphitheatre History". Histovirus. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  7. ↑ "Amphitheatre". Corinium Museum. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  8. ↑ "Cirencester Amphitheatre". English Heritage. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  9. ↑ "Cirencester Roman Amphitheatre". Pastscape. Historic England. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  10. ↑ Michael Gordon Fulford (1989), The Silchester amphitheatre: excavations of 1979-85, Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, ISBN 978-0-907764-12-0
  11. ↑ History of Cirencester and the Roman city Corinium, G. H. Harmer, 1886, p. 261
  12. ↑ "Cirencester Roman amphitheatre plans unveiled". BBC. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  13. ↑ "Venue plan for Cirencester's Roman amphitheatre". BBC. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
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Coordinates: 51°42′41″N 1°58′20″W / 51.7115°N 1.9722°W / 51.7115; -1.9722

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