Visitor attractions

The museum primarily tells the story of everyday life in Leicester, when it was an important regional administrative centre in Roman Britain. The museum has more than a hundred items on display that were discovered locally, some of the finest Roman mosaics and wall plasters ever found in the UK, including the stunning Peacock and Blackfriars mosaics, as well as jewellery, pottery, bronze work and coins.

“Artefacts found in the city reveal its extensive links with the wider Roman world, including the Mediterranean as far afield as Egypt,” explained Mathew Morris, project officer at University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS). He has been digging up and researching Roman Leicester for the past 20 years. “The town's residents of civilians, soldiers and slaves were immersed in Roman culture – and excavations over the years have revealed their lives in incredible detail.”

With many exhibits to choose from, one of Mathew’s personal favourites is the curse tablet written by Servandus, a slave. He appeals to a Celtic God to avenge the theft of his cloak while he slept. He lists 19 suspects, including 3 women. What the exhibit lacks in visual appeal it makes up for in painting a picture of everyday life and problems that 2000 years later we can easily identify with.

The museum has been closed for 8 years. Its redevelopment has been hit by unexpected delays but, capitalising on the latest technology, it has been worth the wait. Sitting on the A46 road Leicester is in a “sweet spot” for a Roman museum in the Midlands. To the north the Jorvik museum in York has a million visitors a year, so does Roman Bath to the south west. To the south the Verulamium Museum at St Albans has just 120,00.

Leicester Mayor Peter Soulsby will not be drawn on expected numbers for Jewry Wall Museum. “People tend to be over optimistic when making their forecast,” he said. “We have looked at the potential competition across the Midlands and think we are really well placed to make a success of it. With no similar dedicated Roman visitor site within 80 miles of Leicester, our new Jewry Wall Museum is set to become the most important Roman-themed attraction in the Midlands.”

Phil Hackett, who also manages the award winning Richard III Museum said they looked forward to similar success with the Jewry Wall Museum.

Ideal for a school holidays visit

Youngsters look forward to the summer school holidays, but for parents and carers finding activities to keep them occupied can be a challenge. At £32 for a family ticket, which allows unlimited visits for 12 months, it’s pretty good value. (Adults £12.50/ £11,50, Children £6.25). The cafe, with views of the excavation and the Jewry Wall, is free to visit and serves tasty treats baked on site. A new accessible entrance has been constructed from St Nicholas Circle.

What Groby and Markfield did for the Romans

Locally the historical focus is usually on a period 1000 years after the Roman occupation celebrating, for example, connections with Elizabeth Woodville and Lady Jane Grey. But archaeological research has shown that the Romans came here for building materials including our Groby slate, granite and Markfieldite.

Local historian David Ramsey wrote that the Romans found the interface where both slate and granite could be drawn from a single source close to Field Head. The slate outcrop between Groby and Markfield was exploited at an early date, and a large quarry, now almost completely grassed over, can be seen on private land. At least half a dozen diamond shaped Roman roofing slates have been found on the site. A now buried metalled route from Field Head to Newtown Linford and Anstey reached all the way to the Vine Street area now occupied by John Lewis in Leicester. The Vine Street excavations revealed large amounts of Markfieldite (pink granite) spread across the site. Roman slate extraction at Field head appears to have run from the late 2nd century until the early 4th century. 

Clearly Groby and Markfield contributed to the building of Roman Leicester.