By Donna Richardson
Roman stories are being brought to life this weekend as the city’s revamped Jewry Wall Museum opens to the public, and so DLUXE went along to see what it’s all about.
Leicester, once known as Ratae Corielatauvorum, is a significant Roman heritage site, and this is one of the prized pieces of its array of Roman offerings, following closely on the heels of a Roman festival in the town centre.
To set the scene, Jewry Wall is a remarkable excavation of the remains of a Bath House in Leicester, one of the largest civic Roman ruins in the country. Dating from around 125 to 130 AD, it has always been known as the Jewry Wall, likely named after “Jurat,” the members of the medieval town’s corporation and the vital structure was key to Roman Leicester. With the reopening of the Jewry Wall Museum, visitors can now immerse themselves in the heart of Roman Leicester, exploring engaging exhibits and ancient artefacts that bring history to life.
The City Mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby, cut the ribbon to officially re-open the venue as visitors eagerly awaited the launch of the new-look museum, featuring multimedia exhibits, interactive displays, and an immersive video experience, which was enjoyed by both young and old alike.
He said’: “This magnificent new attraction means now we can shout proudly about our 2,000 years of history and Leicester’s place in Roman Britain.
“Thanks to the archaeological discoveries and interactive technology, the Jewry Wall Museum can reveal the public and private lives of Ratae Corieltauvorum like never before, telling their stories in new and compelling ways.
“With hundreds of items on display, discovered by archaeologists right here in Leicester, you’ll be able to see the mosaics and wall paintings that decorated their homes, the pottery they ate from, the jewellery they wore and even the little handy tool that kept their fingernails clean!
“It’s a fascinating story, which I hope young people living in Leicester and further afield will be keen to discover.
“And 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.”
While the museum’s use of 21st-century technology will help tell the story of Roman Leicester like never before, it’s the 2nd-century archaeology that will provide a real insight into everyday life in Roman Leicester.
I attended the reopening with my eight-year-old daughter, Amelia, who is a keen historian and found the museum fascinating as she was drawn into the world of characters based on real-life stories.
Hundreds of artefacts are on display, including some of the finest Roman mosaics and wall plaster ever found in the UK, such as the Peacock and Blackfriars mosaics, as well as jewellery, pottery and bronze work – and we got to see them close up. There is also so much to do for children, including building your own mosaic, rebuilding a Roman city out of blocks and interactive games, including Guess Who.
Visitors were stunned by the moving interactive characters and loved how history is brought to life with technology.
Amelia said: “I really enjoyed the interactive tablets because they are fun and they bring history to life. I particularly enjoyed the “Guess Who” game, trying to figure out who stole the cloak.
“The mosaics were beautiful as I had never seen one in real life, and as I want to be an art historian when I grow up. I am so excited to see all the Roman history here.
“We just studied this at school and this is an amazing opportunity to be invited to see the museum, it’s been the best day ever.”
Amelia spoke to Sir Peter Soulsby about how this is the latest attraction, which brings history to life in the city for children:
He said: “Leicester is one of the best cities in the country to learn about history and the museums are a perfect place to start. This one, in particular, is designed to help children develop a passion for history. One of the things we want to do at the Jewry Wall Museum is to invite some local schools to visit and book their trip online.
General manager Phil Hackett also explained all about how the museum came about.
He said: “You can see how the artistry in Roman times had an influence on people today, particularly the wall paintings.”
“Jewry Wall isn’t just a museum – it’s a bold reimagining of how we tell Leicester’s story.
“By combining powerful archaeology, local discovery and world class technology, we’ve created an experience that’s both deeply immersive and genuinely educational. We’re very proud to bring Leicester’s Roman roots to life, not just for local people but for regional, national and international audiences.”
The content at the museum has been developed in collaboration with the University of Leicester, which has shared its expertise on a range of topics, including Roman hairstyles and clothing, language, and religion. This partnership ensures that the displays are both entertaining and educational.
Matthew Morris, project officer at the University of Leicester’s Archaeological Services (ULAS), has been digging up and researching Roman Leicester for the past 20 years and is proud to have been an advisor to the Jewry Wall Museum project.
He said: “Leicester was an important regional and administrative centre in Roman Britain. Artefacts found in the city reveal its extensive links with the wider Roman World, including the Mediterranean as far afield as Egypt. The town’s residents of civilians, soldiers and slaves were immersed in Roman culture and excavations over the years, many carried out by ULAS, have revealed their lives in incredible detail.
“It is inspiring to see how their stories are now being brought vividly to life in the new Jewry Wall Museum, and it’s been a privilege to collaborate with Leicester Museums and Galleries to showcase the very latest understanding of our Roman town.”
The Grade II listed building, which houses the former Vaughan College and the old museum that closed in 2017, has been fully refurbished. A new pedestrian bridge from St Nicholas Circle now makes the building fully accessible for the first time.
Tickets for the Jewry Wall Museum include a Roman Explorer Pass, which allows unlimited visits to the attraction for over 12 months. Prices are £12.50 for adults, with children aged 5-15 paying half price. A family ticket for two adults and two children is available for £32.
The museum, offers a range of books and Jewry Wall souvenirs, including a replica Roman broach, a Peacock mosaic tile and even the muesum’s take on a ‘tesorium’ a sponge on a stick that the Romans used in public lactrines before toilet paper was invented.
There’s also a cafe overlooking the remains of the Roman bath house. The cafe is open to the public from 10am every day without the need to buy an admission ticket – and we can confirm that the coffee and cake is superb. 🙂
Leicester’s new Jewry Wall Museimi is on St Nicholas Walk, Leicester, LE1 4LB.
Opening hours: 10aam until 4pm Sunday to Friday and 10am until 5pm, on Saturdays and bank holidays.
