Viroconium Cornoviorum Archaeological Site

Viroconium Cornoviorum is the Roman town at present-day Wroxeter in Shropshire, England, and was one of the largest urban centres in Roman Britain.

Founded and developed under Roman administration, the settlement served as the civitas centre for the local Cornovii tribe and was occupied from the Roman period into the early medieval era, declining after the 5th century AD. Archaeological excavation has revealed domestic, civic and industrial remains and many finds now displayed with on-site interpretation.

The archaeological site lies beside the modern village of Wroxeter, roughly 6-8 kilometres east-southeast of Shrewsbury in Shropshire.

• Visiting tip: Much of the site survives as earthworks and exposed foundations rather than standing stone architecture, so dry weather is best for walking and seeing features.
• Period of occupation: Occupied from the Roman conquest through the early medieval period, the site was a major civitas centre in Roman Britain between the 1st and 5th centuries AD.

What to See#

• Urban area and foundations: Contains the remains of an extensive Roman urban area with visible street alignments, house foundations and public buildings dating to the Roman period.
• Baths complex: Excavated public bath complex preserved as foundations and earthworks from the 1st to 5th centuries AD.
• Museum and visitor displays: On-site interpretation and displays present finds from the excavations and explain the site’s development during Roman Britain.

The Roman site Viroconium (Wroxeter) lies about 5 miles (≈8 km) east of Shrewsbury. By car it is a short drive (about 15-20 minutes) from Shrewsbury along local roads; there is limited parking at the archaeological site. The nearest mainline rail station is Shrewsbury - from there take a taxi or local bus service (services are infrequent) for the final few miles.