The Forum and Basilica of Roman Leicester

In the mid-1950's attempts were made to solve Leicester's traffic problems by the construction of an inner ring road by-passing the present city centre around the clock tower. The projected line ran through the Roman and medieval towns of Leicester from the north-east corner to the medieval south gate, passing just west of the ancient site of the High Cross (FIG. I ). The engineering work for this road was expected to destroy substantial archaeological evidence of the history of the town, and the City of Leicester Museums, in association with the then Ministry of Works, planned a jointly-financed programme of excavations. The first was undertaken in Blue Boar Lane by Mr. J. S. Wacher. In 1961 Leicester Museums appointed a full-time Field Archaeologist to direct the work of rescue in advance of road building. The work recorded in this paper under 1961–4 was directed by M. G. Hebditch: that under 1965–6, and again under 1971–2, by Jean Mellor. In all its excavations, the Museum staff enjoyed the co-operation of colleagues in other departments of Leicester Corporation, especially those of the Engineer and the Estates Officer. A besetting problem has been the limited area for excavation available at any one time (because of irregular demolition and clearance of the site and the need to leave substantial areas for the support of adjoining buildings).