One of Gloucester’s most important Roman archeological sites has been flooded. The King’s Walk Bastion which dates back to 300 AD is a major attraction in the city.
But civic chiefs say the site which lies under Eastgate Street and can be accessed through King’s Walk Shopping Centre will be closed off to the public until they find the source of the water.
The chamber contains the remains of part of the Roman city wall and a medieval defensive tower which was probably built during the reign of Henry III.
In recent years, Gloucester Civic Trust has provided tours of the site for visitors and residents alike.
But Councillor Andy Lewis (C, Quedgeley Severn Vale), Gloucester City Council’s head of culture and leisure, said a specialist survey will be needed to ascertain whether any damage has been done to the archaeological remains.
“The Bastion, underground by Boots, has been flooded. We are going to have to do some sort of investigation as it is obviously very delicate down there. It’s 2,000 years old.
“You could go through it under King’s Walk but the Civic Trust have had to stop the tours as it is flooded there.. We are responsible for the whole building site. If there is remedial work that needs to be done, that’s something we will have to grin and bear and get on with it.
“We don’t know how it got flooded. That’s the problem. It’s just come to light this afternoon and you’re getting it straight from the horse’s mouth.
“It will have to be a very specialist survey done by archaeologists. But we don’t know about it at this time.”
Cllr Lewis said tours of the site are on demand and mainly take place in the summer. People could also wander doing there during history week, he said.
“But they won’t be able to do it. We don’t want to do any damage and we need to find where it’s coming from. Until we know what is happening we can’t let anyone down there.”
Hugh Worsnip, of the Gloucester Civic Trust, explained the site was excavated in the 1970s as part of a redevelopment project.
“It was originally part of the Co-op development on the corner of Brunswick Road. Then Boots bought it and in the redevelopment it prompted a huge excavation of the whole site.
“It went on for over a year and it attracted huge numbers of people. You could sit there and watch them excavating huge sections of the Roman wall and part of the Eastgate bastion which was the entrance to the Roman city and the mediaeval city.
“You could literally see it emerging as the archaeologists dug down to find out what was on the Boots’ site.
“We knew the Roman wall went through it but the extent of it and the condition of it was amazingly surprising. It was in such good condition.
“Ever since, it has been preserved under the ground there under Boots and part of Eastgate Street and it has become an attraction which the Civic Trust has provided tours to go down and see it all.”
