This Roman column can be found just outside York Minster. It was found on its side, in pieces and originally formed part of the basilica of a Roman fortress. There were originally 16 columns in the building and it is believed that it would have been where Constantine was declared Emperor in AD 306.
The column was found in 1969 and in 1971 the Dean of York Minster donated it York Civic Trust who had it moved to its current location. They also placed a plaque on the column explaining its history.
The quotation on the plaque reads:
THIS ROMAN COLUMN ONCE STOOD WITHIN THE GREAT HALL OF THE HEADQUARTERS BUILDING OF THE FORTRESS OF THE SIXTH LEGION (WHOSE EMBLEM WAS A BULL) IN THE FOURTH CENTURY A.D. IT WAS FOUND IN 1969 DURING THE EXCAVATION OF THE SOUTH TRANSEPT OF THE MINSTER, LYING WHERE IT HAD COLLAPSED. IT WAS GIVEN BY THE DEAN AND CHAPTER TO THE YORK CIVIC TRUST WHO IN 1971 ERECTED IT ON THIS SITE TO MARK THE 1900TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDATION OF THE CITY BY THE ROMANS IN A.D. 71.
Another bit of history I didn't know about Lucy... and they've only found the one column. Do the archeologists have any idea as to what might have happened to the rest of the building?
