Castleford’s Roman Bath House to be brought to life as part of the Riverside regeneration project

Work to bring Castleford’s Roman heritage back into the spotlight as part of Wakefield Council’s plan to regenerate the town’s waterfront will commence in March 2024. Once complete, this project will offer residents and visitors a glimpse into what life was like in Castleford during ancient times.

Back then Castleford was known as Lagentium. We know that Lagentium was a bustling settlement as the Romans built a series of forts here, including a bathhouse. Wakefield Council is proud to support projects that preserve and protect the history of the district and are delighted to be working in partnership with Historic England, West Yorkshire Joint Services and Castleford Heritage Trust, to recreate the footprint of the Roman bathing complex - enabling visitors to imagine what life was like here in the 1st Century.  

The ancient foundations are buried under a patch of grass near the roundabout on Savile Road, currently marked by a plaque. West Yorkshire archaeologists first began excavating the Bath House in 1978, and discoveries have unveiled the layout of the baths, including its changing rooms (apodyterium), cold room (frigidarium), cold plunge bath, warm room (tepidarium), steam room (caldarium) and heating furnace room (praefurnium). 

The site was listed as a national monument in 2016, establishing itself alongside other historic sites including Chantry Bridge in Wakefield.

Discoveries provide a glimpse into the luxurious lifestyles the Romans enjoyed here. The plunge bath’s wall and floor were plastered with patterned opus signinum, while the floors in the tepidarium and caldarium were supported with tiled pillars (pillae). 

The redevelopment of Castleford’s Riverside aims to transform the waterfront into an exciting destination, featuring new public spaces, riverside parks and lots of greenery. It also includes investment in Queen’s Mill to secure its status as a prominent attraction within the town. Visitors to the newly regenerated riverside will be just a short stroll from the Roman Baths, making it possible to travel back in time over thousands of years, in just a few minutes.