Viroconium

Viroconium was a Roman city in England. Its site is now occupied by the village of Wroxeter, around 5 miles south east of Shrewsbury.

Viroconium is estimated to have been the fourth largest Roman settlement in Britain with a population of more than 6,000 people at its peak. It was founded in the later 1st century AD and by 130 had grown to more than 70ha and contained baths and a forum dedicated to the emperor Hadrian.

Although in decline, the city continued to be occupied following the Roman withdrawal in AD 410 and (like many places in England) has been suggested to be the original Camelot of Arthurian legend.

Impressive standing remains have been excavated, including an archway that is the largest free-standing Roman ruin in England. Most of the city remains underground, but it has been mapped through geophysical survey and aerial archaeology.

A. E. Housman refers to the town as "Uricon" in his poem A Shropshire Lad.

External links

• Viroconium History site
• Excavation report by Thomas Wright

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A fictional town of the same name (but spelt Viriconium) appears in the science fiction novels of M. John Harrison.