Gladiators at the Guildhall

Gladiators at the Guildhall:
The Story of London's
Roman Amphitheatre and
Medieval Guildhall

The Guildhall Museum was established in 1876. Many ancient and medieval items discovered around London were exhibited here. After World War Two this museum was replaced by the Museum of London.

The Guildhall Art Gallery was established in 1886 in some old buildings on the east side of the Guildhall Yard. They were badly damaged by German bombs in 1940, but not demolished until 1987. Archaeologists from the Museum of London were invited to conduct a ‘routine’ excavation before construction work started.

They found some items ancient and some medieval items, but it seemed there was nothing sensational. However, in February 1988, they suddenly realised that the ancient wall they had discovered was part of a large oval construction, an amphitheatre, and this was very sensational indeed. They had found London’s Roman amphitheatre!

It was decided to preserve the ancient monument in its place (in situ) and to make it accessible to the public, once the archaeologists had finished their job. The plans for the new gallery were modified, so the amphitheatre would end up in one of the underground floors.

Excavations began again in 1992 and continued until 1999. Construction of the new gallery began in 1993, and it was opened in 1999. But at that time there was not yet public access to the amphitheatre. On 11 June 2002 the doors were opened to this part of the gallery.

It was not possible to excavate the entire ancient monument. It was only possible to excavate the area around the eastern gate, i.e. ca. 25 per cent of the total. The entire oval was 85 x100 meters. The arena was 45 x 60 meters.

The auditorium had 10-15 rows of seats. There was room for more than 5,000 spectators. Given that ancient London had some 25,000 inhabitants, the building had a very good capacity.

The first version of the amphitheatre was built in wood around AD 70. During the second century AD it got a major facelift. A stonewall was built around the arena and around the two gates (east and west). The building was used for two types of games: gladiator fighting (munera) and wild beast hunting (venationes). It was used until the fourth century. When the Romans abandoned the province Britannia, it was deserted and forgotten. During the 11th century Saxons and Normans built a small village on top of the old amphitheatre.

This book about the amphitheatre is written by the British archaeologist Nick Bateman. The author knows his topic very well. He was the leader of the team that excavated the monument (1987-1999), and he is a Senior Project Manager at the Museum of London Archaeology Service.

The book is divided into three sections: the first one is about the Roman amphitheatre; the second is about the Saxons and the Normans who built a small village on top of the deserted amphitheatre; the third is about the medieval Guildhall.

The first section covers two topics: the first one is a general presentation of the Roman amphitheatre and its functions. The second is the excavation of the Roman amphitheatre in London.

The book is fully illustrated with a large number of drawings, photos and maps, almost all of them in colour. This book is very good. As a matter of fact, it is an example of popular science in the best sense of the word: fast and effective presentation of the results of recent research. In the year 2000, when the book was published, the public was not yet allowed to enter the place. But from June 2002 the public was allowed to enter and look at (the remains of) the ancient monument.

If you are interested in the history of London - and Roman history in general - you should definitely read this book, and in addition you should visit the Guildhall Art Gallery. Please note the following important facts: 

 

(1) You are not allowed to use a camera inside the building

 

(2) There is free access to the museum every Friday and every day after 3.30 pm

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Nick Bateman,

Gladiators at the Guildhall,

Museum of London, 2000, 92 pages

 

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The courtyard in front of the medieval Guildhall.

 

The courtyard in front of the Guildhall.

The ancient monument was discovered during a dig in 1988.

The curve of the amphitheatre is shown by coloured tiles.

 

 

The courtyard in front of the Guildhall.

The curve of the ancient amphitheatre is shown by coloured tiles.
 

The courtyard in front of the Guildhall. A part of the Roman

amphitheatre is under the building, a part is under the courtyard.

The curve of the ancient monument is shown by coloured tiles.

 

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