Charterhouse Roman Town

Charterhouse Roman Town is an archaeological site in Somerset showing a Roman settlement with streets, buildings, and work areas used for lead and silver processing. The site includes an amphitheatre and smelting facilities that reveal the industrial focus of this community.

The settlement began around 50 AD as a Roman military outpost managing lead extraction and later shifted to civilian administration. This transition shows how Rome adapted military installations to serve economic interests when mining became more established.

This settlement housed both soldiers and workers who lived side by side, creating a mixed community centered on mining operations rather than typical Roman town life. The site shows how ordinary people organized daily routines around extraction and production work.

The site sits in open countryside and can be visited year-round, though drier months offer easier walking conditions. Sturdy footwear helps on uneven ground, and it is worth allowing time to explore both the visible remains and the surrounding landscape.

Lead ingots stamped with Roman inscriptions found here suggest the settlement was called Vebriacum. These marked metal pieces are rare direct evidence connecting the place name to the goods actually produced there.