Cities
United Kingdom York North Yorkshire Historical Landmark

Roman Column

Roman Column
About

The Roman Column in York, standing in Minster Yard beside York Minster, is one of the city’s most tangible links to its ancient past. Dating from around AD 100, it originally formed part of the basilica, or headquarters building, of the Roman fortress of Eboracum, which housed the Ninth and later the Sixth Legion. Rising 9.5 metres high, the column once supported the roof of this vast administrative hall, a space where emperors such as Septimius Severus and Constantine the Great would have walked. Rediscovered during excavations beneath York Minster in 1969, the column was reassembled and erected in its current location in 1971 to mark the 1900th anniversary of the city’s founding. Constructed from cylindrical drums of magnesian limestone, it bears the marks of Roman craftsmanship and centuries of reuse, with its base now set on a modern plinth. Today, the column stands as a striking reminder of York’s Roman origins, a monument that connects the city’s bustling present with its role as one of the most important military and political centres in Roman Britain.

York United Kingdom
Location

The Roman Column in York is located in Minster Yard, directly opposite the south front of York Minster in the city centre. This 22-foot-high gritstone column, dating from the 1st century AD, was part of the headquarters building of the Roman fortress of Eboracum and was re-erected near its original site in 1971 to commemorate the 1900th anniversary of York’s founding. Visitors to the area can also explore York Minster itself, the nearby St Michael le Belfrey Church, and the Treasurer’s House. The column stands as a powerful reminder of York’s Roman origins amidst the vibrant historic city landscape, situated close to the Museum Gardens, city walls, and many other cultural landmarks.

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