A ROMAN DAY

3 August 2001

We visit the Corinium museum in Cirencester and the Roman villa near Chedworth.

On arrival in Cirencester, we pass through a street market en route for the museum, which we reach just as a heavy shower threatens to drench us

The building encloses an attractive small central courtyard

There is Mediterrranean foliage and Roman style murals and statuary

(Roger is the one on the right with his shirt on)

Inside, there are life-size models and tableaux depicting the Roman settlers and their life-style

A mounted soldier

A quiet family evening at home

Some original Roman mosaics have been reconstructed, and the one on the left, the Hare Mosaic, is displayed in the main hall

In an educational section for younger visitors, Jay is able to try on typical Roman garments

Jay and Roger during a coffee break

The Roman villa near Chedworth was first excavated by the Victorians, who built the out-of-character roofs over what remained of the walls

Much of the interest lies just below today’s ground level, and includes mosaic flooring like the one here

Many of the rooms were warmed by hot air systems (hypocaust) carried either in ducts and channels (as left), or, more expensively, under the whole floor, which was supported on a series of small stone pillars (for the really rich, as on the right) or on stacks of tiles (cheaper and more commonly found)

The heating complex was supplied by a single large boiler, the entrance to which has survived

Before departing, we pose before the ruined shrine (nymphaeum) of the Goddess of Water: the sacred pond is still supplied by the same spring as in Roman days, and we throw a few small coins into it (just in case)