Bicester

• Bicester is a town in Oxfordshire that was founded by the Saxons in the 6th century CE.

History

• Bicester lies 2 miles north of a Roman Fort and town of Alchester, where Akeman Street intersected with a Roman road between Silchester and Towcester.
• No remains are visible, except by aerial photography.
• It would appear that a Legionary Fortress was built here by the Legio II Augusta between 44-45 CE, as a supply base behind the Fosse Way Frontier very soon after the Roman Conquest of Britannia in 43 CE.
• Vespasian was the Legio II’s commander, and was probably based here.
• Alchester became a town after the Legion moved to Exeter.

Roman Roads

• Akeman Street
  • The road runs from from Cirencester–Alchester–St. Albans.
• A Roman Road
  • Silchester–Alchester–Towcester.

Nearby Sites

• The Ridgeway
  • A Road from the Bronze Age.
• North Leigh
  • North Leigh Roman Villa
• Oxford
  • Ashmolean Museum
    • It holds Greek and Roman Collections
• Woodstock
  • Oxfordshire Museum, Woodstock

Bicester