It is believed that the town was founded in around AD 50 and was inhabited for around 300 years until the late fourth century when the Romans left Britain. The name "Tripontium" means "three bridges."
It is believed that Tripontium was an important stopping place for travelers and passing Roman armies. It is also believed that several Roman Emperors visited Tripontium.
The town is recorded in the Antonine Itineraries, a third century document which recorded the journeys taken by the Roman Emperors. Tripontium is featured as a stopping place in at least one of these documents.
The exact position of Tripontium remained a mystery for centuries but it was discovered in the 20th century, and excavation work began on the site in 1961 by the Rugby Archeological Society.
The excavations of the site have revealed remains of a sizeable Roman town with baths and several large administrative buildings, along with numerous pieces of pottery Roman Coins and other remains.
Evidence has also been found at the site of Iron smelting.
The site is not presently open to the public but many of the excavations are on public show at a museum in Rugby.Excavations