Roman column – York, Great Britain. - Ancient Roman Civilization on Waymarking.com

This column was found laying on its side, in pieces and originally formed part of the basilica of a Roman fortress. There were originally 16 columns in the building and it is believed that it would have been where Constantine was declared Emperor in AD 306.

As the date of York’s 1900th anniversary of its foundation approached, archaeological excavations were undertaken underneath York Minster's tower.

This column was donated by the Dean and Chapter of York Minster and erected by York Civic Trust in 1971 to celebrate 1900 years of history.

The Romans founded the City of York in A.D. 71, and at that time they called it Eboracum. It was the most Northerly large settlement in Britain. Britain was divided into two at this time, Britannia Superior in the South, and York became the capital city of Britannia Inferior in the North.

The column was found in 1969 and in 1971 the Dean of York Minster donated it York Civic Trust who had it moved to its current location. They also placed a plaque on the column explaining its history.

"Column from the north-east colonnade of the Roman headquarters building. Originally constructed c100 AD by Legion IX, re-assembled and re-used by Legion VI in C4; erected in present location 1971. Gritstone. Cylindrical column approximately 9.5 metres high, with moulded base and damaged moulded capital, raised on square plinth. The column was excavated from beneath York Minster (qv) in 1969 and given to the City of York to mark the 1900th anniversary of its foundation c71 AD" Text Source: (visit link)


This website about Roman York has a picture of the column as it lay under the minster. (visit link)

The quotation on the plaque reads:

"THIS ROMAN COLUMN ONCE STOOD WITHI N THE GREAT HALL OF THE HEADQUARTERS
BUILDING OF THE FORTRESS OF THE SIXTH LEGION (WHOSE EMBLEM WAS A BULL) IN THE
FOURTH CENTURY A.D. IT WAS FOUND IN 1969 DURING THE EXCAVATION OF THE SOUTH
TRANSEPT OF THE MINSTER, LYING WHERE IT HAD COLLAPSED.
IT WAS GIVEN BY THE DEAN AND CHAPTER TO THE YORK CIVIC TRUST WHO IN 1971
ERECTED IT ON THIS SITE TO MARK THE 1900TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDATION OF
THE CITY BY THE ROMANS IN A.D. 71." Text from the Plaque.

Most Relevant Historical Period: Roman Empire > 27 B.C. Admission Fee: free Opening days/times: Daily - Dawn to Dusk. Web Site: [Web Link] Condition: Partly intact or reconstructed

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