5. The 1899 Discovery

The Gate’s original Roman foundations weren’t discovered until 1899. A few years earlier, workmen employed by the 3rd Marquess of Bute had come across some ancient masonry. This turned out to be the remains of a massive wall, which once surrounded a Roman fort. It was a momentous find.

After carrying out a full excavation, Lord Bute took the decision to reconstruct the walls – including this gate. It was the beginning of yet another major transformation of Cardiff Castle.

Bute was keen to make his Roman reconstruction as accurate as possible. Dr Peter Webster, an archaeologist at the University of Cardiff, said:

“Any reconstruction is as good as the knowledge at the time I think…

It’s probably the best example of a reconstructed late Roman fort, and it gives you a good idea of what a late Roman fort looked like.

It was fairly exceptional, certainly. I can’t think of another example in Britain – certainly of that date…”