DEFEATING BOUDICCA’S REVOLT

The partially reconstructed Lunt Roman Fort in Baginton, Warwickshire is reopening for the Easter Holidays

“THE UPRISING WAS EXTREMELY BLOODY AND ALMOST OVERTHREW THE IMPERIAL REGIME BEFORE IT WAS FINALLY DEFEATED”

Between c.60-61 CE, the Iceni tribe of East Anglia rebelled against Roman rule under the leadership of their queen, Boudicca. The uprising was extremely bloody and almost overthrew the imperial regime before it was finally defeated. What is now the English Midlands became a highly militarised zone and the Romans built at least five forts, including the Lunt.

Located in Baginton, Warwickshire, the Lunt was close to the junction of two major Roman roads and situated on a high plateau. It could house hundreds of troops and may have been constructed to quell the last remnants of Boudicca’s uprising.

The fort was abandoned approximately 20 years after its construction but its existence was rediscovered in the 1930s. It was partially rebuilt during the 1970s based upon original foundations and archaeological evidence to give a realistic interpretation of Roman military life. Reconstructions include a section of the wall, a gateway modelled on images from Trajan’s Column, a granary and a unique ‘gyrus’ arena, which is believed to have been used for training horses.

The Lunt is closed over the winter months but it will be reopening to the public for the Easter holidays from 15-26 April 2019. It is also open for the summer holidays and October half term.

The Royal Engineers reconstructed this gateway in three days. Archaeological evidence suggests that the original gate would have been nine to eleven metres high