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Senhouse Roman Museum(See also Maryport and Lake District Coast Aquarium)
The altars are rectangular with a base and capital. Each has an inscription in the central part. The Romans poured offerings and burned incense on the top. The altars were constructed annually in thanksgiving to the gods for keeping the Roman Empire safe.
Senhouse Roman Museum Photos courtesy of Barbara Ballard © 1997-2008 by The Cumbria Directory. Reproduction of this work in whole or in part, including images, and reproduction in electronic media, without documented permission from The Cumbria Directory is prohibited. |
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The Senhouse Roman
Museum is home to both the oldest collection of Roman artefacts in Britain and the largest from
one site in Britain. The collection was begun by John Senhouse from Netherhall around 1570. The
artefacts were recovered from the remains of a Roman Fort, Alauna and its nearby settlement. The
Romans used Maryport as a landing stage for troop supplies for Hadrian's Wall and Carlisle, and
as part of a chain of coastal defenses.
During the
18th century there were extensive excavations around Alauna, and many altars were
discovered giving weight to the importance of religious practice in Roman Britain. The stone
altars were dedicated as part of an annual ceremony at a temple to Jupiter, possibly located
northeast of the fort.
Other museum displays
cover the Roman occupation of the area and Celtic religious sculptures. Everyday life of the
Roman outposts is explained in the museum, which is housed in an 1885 Naval Reserve Battery
located between the coast and the remains of the Roman fort.