Ribchester

The village of Ribchester is situated in the beautiful Ribble Valley district of Lancashire, England. It lies directly on the banks of the River Ribble close to the cities of Blackburn and Preston. As with many towns and villages in Lancashire and the north of England, Ribchester has a strong historical association with the textile industry but is now mainly a commuter village.

The village is ancient, with evidence of Bronze Age beginnings, and was once a significant Roman cavalry fort named Bremetennacum. The original timber fort was built in AD 72/73 by the Twentieth Legion and was rebuilt in the 2nd century in stone. The village of Ribchester developed around the fort, which survived until the 4th century AD. Its remains can still be seen around the present village. An elaborate cavalry helmet from the period was found in Church Street in the 18th century and was gifted by Charles Towneley to the British Museum.