Long and Illustrious Past
Leicester is a city with a long and illustrious past; stretching from the time when the first prehistoric people passed through the area, to the rich and varied city we see today. Highlights of this past include development of the Roman city and establishment as a tribal capital in the second century AD; it being the location of the main residence of the Dukes of Lancaster in the fourteenth century; and the prosperity brought about by the hosiery industry in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Leicester has a clearly defined historic core. This is
the area within the town defences that were first established in the
Roman period and re-adopted in the mediaeval period, along with areas
outside those defences in which it is known that there were Roman
cemeteries, Roman or mediaeval suburbs and mediaeval religious houses.
Archaeology and Planning
The City's historic core is defined as an Archaeology Alert Area
to indicate to prospective developers where development is most likely
to have an impact upon archaeological remains (though archaeological
remains are not confined to the Archaeology Alert Area).
The City Archaeologist works to foster an understanding of the city’s past and to preserve the remains of that past, and has an important role in assessing and reconciling the impact of development on archaeological remains.
Historic Environment Record
The Council keeps a register of all the known archaeological remains in the city. The
Historic Environment Record (HER) can be viewed by appointment.
Information and Advice
