The Friends of Roman Aldborough (FORA) is an educational charity dedicated to promoting and enhancing understanding of the extremely rich Roman heritage of the village of Aldborough in North Yorkshire.

THE ROMAN NAME FOR ALDBOROUGH WAS ISURIUM BRIGANTUM

FORA’s Purpose

To advance education by promoting, sustaining and increasing the individual and collective knowledge of people of all ages, of Roman history, life and culture and, in particular but not exclusively, the importance of Roman Aldborough (Isurium Brigantum) in Roman Britain and the wider Roman Empire.

FORA’s ‘objects’ in our Charity Constitution

 

To achieve this:

  • We promote public education and awareness of Isurium Brigantum and its role in Roman Britain and beyond.
  • We arrange an annual programme of activities for members.
  • We provide talks, events, and projects that bring the history of Aldborough and Roman times to life for our members, the local community, schools and visitors.
  • We support academic research and interpretation of finds.
  • We work in partnership with the University of Cambridge ‘Aldborough Roman Town Project’, English Heritage, other heritage organisations, schools and educational institutions.
  • We are developing a Roman garden at the museum site as an educational aid and visitor attraction.

Background

Aldborough, or Isurium Brigantum in Romans times, was a regional capital (civitas) at the heart of the extensive territory of the Brigantes, the largest tribal group in Britain. It was founded in the late 1st century AD and located where Dere Street (the Roman A1 from the south to Hadrian’s Wall) met access to the sea via the river Ure. Isurium was a substantial industrial, trading and administrative hub with a forum, an amphitheatre, many mosaics, warehouses, metal working, places of worship and high status housing.

People

Click the links below to find out about the Trustees who guide the charity and the members of the Cambridge University Roman Town research project.

Trustees

Roman Town Project Researchers

Today, vast amounts of Roman remains are still just under our feet over all of Aldborough and the surrounding area. The layout of the village still reflects the Roman street layout and sections of the Roman walls, mosaics, and artefacts can be seen at the ‘Aldborough Roman Town’ site and museum. A key part of the work of FORA is actively supporting ever increasing academic research which is revealing much more about this unique heritage.