New interpretation boards have been installed on the hoardings in King’s Square, where a current archaeological survey is taking place to reveal more of Gloucester’s Roman past. The 20 new boards, which have been produced by Marketing Gloucester and Gloucester City Council with funding from the Gloucestershire Environmental Trust, provide information about the city’s Roman remains and previous archeological digs around Gloucester.
The current archaeological survey is hoping to find more evidence of the original Roman Glevum settlement in the King’s Quarter area of the city, before redevelopment of the area begins later in the year. The site is of significant interest following the recent trial evaluation dig, which took place in March, which uncovered a Roman town house under the recently demolished Golden Egg building.
The archaeological dig, which is organised by Gloucester City Council and Cotswold Archaeology, is hoping to shed more light on how Gloucester may have looked in Roman times. It is also the area where it is believed that Whitefriars, a medieval Carmelite friary, is buried deep beneath the bus station.
The new hoardings feature details of notable excavations in the past including those that have taken place beneath Debenhams, the 1978 excavation of the Eastgate Chambers and the 1974 excavations on Northgate Street, where Cotters Bar Shoes is now located.
Jason Smith, Chief Executive of Marketing Gloucester, says, “We are thrilled to see the amount of interest in the excavations and in particular the 20 interpretation boards. It has been very rewarding to see the large number of residents and visitors who have been fascinated to learn more about our historic city.”
Andrew Armstrong, Archaeologist at Gloucester City Council, continues: “We want to let members of the public know more about the history of archaeology in the area. It is very important to communicate how and why this investigation is taking place.”
