120
since his name was expunged from memory after his assassination it is
equally likely it was founded some time then. This is a genuine possib ility
since one scenario is that Legio XX deserted the fortress to move up to a
new site at Wroxeter around AD 75 (cf. Hassall and Hurst 1999; Hassall
2000: 62). As at Colchester, the archaeological evidence seems to suggest
that quite a few military buildings remained upstanding, so a long period of
desertion is unlikely. These structures were converted to secondary uses in
the early stages of the colony, and were slowly supplemented by new monu-
mental edifi ces and facilities. The Berkeley Street excavations revealed some
barrack blocks, which had been rebuilt as part-stone structures in a sim-
ilarly regimented formation. This had taken place not earlier than AD 86/7
(Hurst 1999b: 114). The architecture and dating is therefore ambiguous. Are
they just replacement barrack blocks, or are they colonial buildings being
constructed for the veteran settlers? The fi ne distinction between the inter-
pretation of archaeology as military or civilian is again highlighted here. Over
the next few generations, gradually these blocks were replaced with new
buildings, breaking up the regimented pattern.
Our knowledge of the layout of Gloucester is far sketchier than for any
of the towns discussed so far. The site of the forum is known, built directly
on top of the principia, facing northeast. Constructed in the later fi rst cen-
tury, it was probably restructured in the second. Within it were found the
remains of part of a bronze equestrian statue, most likely that of an emperor
(Hurst 1988: 65). Upon leaving the forum and turning left there is a massive
colonnade, which may have been part of a temple precinct or palaestra. This
is called the ‘Westgate colonnade’, which comprised a series of 1m-diam-
eter columns that extends over a length of 100 metres. Its identifi cation as
a precinct has not been completely established, and other suggestions are
that it is just a roadside colonnade, though it is set a little way back from the
road for this; or that it is the nave of a basilica, though it would be the largest
one north of the Alps (Hurst 1988: 65; 1999c: 155–7). So far, both forum
and ‘monument’ (whatever it is) are right next to each other; though unlike
Colchester or Wroxeter, they are in the middle of the old fortress rather than
in an annexe. If the fortress had contained a military bath-house which had
been reused, then this also may have lain in the centre, creating a dense clus-
ter of public buildings, again following the pattern established at Colchester
and Wroxeter – but such anathema to the London and Pompeian sense of
urban living.
At Exeter (Isca Dumnoniorum) the legionary fortress was built in the mid-
50s AD. At fi rst Legio II Augusta garrisoned the site. Opinions vary as to
where they went next (Hassall 2000), but the garrison was reduced until the
site was fi nally abandoned around AD 80/85. Subsequently development was
fairly rapid. Right in the middle of the fortress, covering an area where the
principia, praetorium and legionary baths had once stood, a new forum-basilica
was constructed. Traces of a temporary wooden basilica have been found
THE CREATION OF ORDER