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London has just gained another valuable piece in its historical jigsaw puzzle. Archaeologists have discovered one of the most significant buildings from the Roman era under the basement of a commercial building on Gracechurch Street: a 2 year old basilica. The structure, which was part of the city's ancient forum, sheds new light on Roman history and early London.
A discovery of great historical importance
A team of archaeologists from the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) have revealed that the excavation has uncovered a significant part of the city's first basilica.
This public building was a center of political, economic and administrative decisions in ancient Londinium, Roman London.
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The site, which could soon be opened to the public, offers a new perspective on the city's evolution and its role in the Roman Empire.
“This is incredible – we are in the heart of Roman London,” says Sophie Jackson, an archaeologist at MOLA. “This building will help us better understand why London grew to become the capital of Britain.”
The structure of the Roman basilica
The excavation revealed sections of a stone wall that formed part of the base of the basilica, an imposing construction measuring around 40 metres long, 20 metres wide and 12 metres high.
The building is estimated to have been two and a half stories tall and was made of limestone from Kent in south-east England.
In addition to the fragments of the basilica, archaeologists also found historical artifacts, such as a tile marked with the seal of a Roman city authority, reinforcing the importance of the site in the administration of the old Londinium.
The forum and its role in Roman society
The discovered basilica was part of the London Forum, a commercial and social center comparable to modern public squares.
It was there that commercial transactions, trials and law-making took place.
“The forum was the heart of Roman public life. The basilica, in particular, functioned as a kind of town hall and courthouse,” Jackson explains.
Built around 80 AD, just a few decades after the Romans arrived in Britain, the structure was used for around 20 years before being replaced by an even larger forum, reflecting the city's rapid growth.
Plans for preservation and public display
The archaeological discovery has led to a change in plans by the owners of the commercial building located at 85 Gracechurch Street.
Hertshten Properties, responsible for the project, announced that the ruins will be preserved and incorporated into the new construction, allowing the public to have access to the historic site.
Adapting the new structure to the archaeological findings created challenges for the project's architects.
“We had to redesign columns and reduce the number of elevators to ensure the preservation of the historic site,” explains James Taylor, architect at Woods Bagot.
“However, the opportunity to allow people to explore this part of Roman history makes all the effort worthwhile.”
London and its Roman past
This is just one of several recent discoveries about Roman London.
Other parts of the city also house traces of this fascinating past, such as the amphitheatre beneath the Guildhall Art Gallery and the Temple of Mithras, located inside the Bloomberg offices, where an interactive sound and light installation transports visitors to antiquity.
Chris Hayward of the City of London Corporation stresses the importance of preserving these historic landmarks.
“Roman London is beneath our feet, and allowing people to experience this connection between past and present is extraordinary,” he says. “The contrast between Roman ruins and modern skyscrapers reflects progress combined with preservation.”
With the opening of this new archaeological site to the public, London continues to reveal the layers of its rich history, connecting its Roman heritage to the vibrant metropolis it is today.
What a great news, what a weak report. No image of the archaeological site or links to the original. But a terrible image created by AI.