Lunt Roman Fort Castles

The Lunt Roman fort is in Baginton, near Coventry and is a partial reconstruction of the fort that was established there in 64AD following the Boudiccan rebellion. In 1960 initial excavations uncovered the remains of the defensive ditches of the Roman fort, which led to extensive excavations between 1965 and 1973.

The goal was to completely uncover the site as well as reconstruct the defenses and internal buildings. The investigations have shown that the fort survived three major changes of face over the course of its first twenty years, and was then abandoned for 180 years before construction of a new gateway and defensive ditches.

The present buildings are based on the second building phase. Visitors entering the fort do so by the reconstructed Eastern Gateway which is built entirely of timber and is based on depictions from Trajan's column. The most interesting feature in the fort is the large circular construction identified as a 'gyrus', which was the cavalry training ring.

The outlines of other important buildings can be seen, including the 'principia' or headquarters building, and six barrack blocks. Each block would have been occupied by a century, a unit of 80 soldiers commanded by a centurion whose quarters were at the north end of each block. Three "horrea", or granaries, have also been found at Lunt. One of these has been reconstructed in timber and now serves as the sites Interpretative Centre and Museum of the Roman Army.

Exhibits in the Museum:

Museum of Roman Military Life with archaeological finds

A model of the Roman fort as it appeared in 64AD

Occasional reenactments of military manoeuvres