DAYSOUT
A DAY OUT AT CANTERBURY ROMAN MUSEUM
CANTERBURY IS AN ENDLESSLY FASCINATING PLACE . EVERY TIME YOU VISIT , YOU ’ LL FIND SOMETHING NEW THAT YOU HADN ’ T NOTICED BEFORE ; SOME PIECE OF HISTORY THAT BRINGS THE PAST TO LIFE AND MAKES THE PRESENT MORE UNDERSTANDABLE . IT COULD BE A BUILDING , A STORY , OR SIMPLY A WORD THAT HAS AN ANCIENT MEANING . BY LISAMARIE LAMB
It could be the remains of a Roman courtyard house and pavement , as well as a variety of enthralling Roman artefacts . And , if you visit the wonderful Canterbury Roman Museum , that ’ s exactly what you get – and much more besides .
Canterbury Roman Museum is the only such museum in Kent , which is all the more surprising when you think that Kent is where the Romans first landed on 26th August 55 BC – in Deal , to be precise , and although they were beaten back by the Britons at that time , it took almost another hundred years until they came back stronger and were able to conquer England in AD 43 by landing near Rochester . Luckily for us , the museum at Canterbury is packed full of many different Roman artefacts and information , giving us an insight into what it was like during that time , and of course how Canterbury has changed since .
After being greeted by the friendly staff , you begin your journey back in time by walking down a series of steps ( each one representing 100 years ); the museum itself is all to be found underground , which makes sense as the Roman streets were much lower than the ones we walk on today . For those with mobility issues , there is a lift too .
The journey through Roman Canterbury begins with an exploration of the marketplace of the time . You ’ ll find shoemakers , vegetable sellers , street food vendors , even hairdressers . It ’ s a marvellous start to your time in the museum and it links then and now perfectly ; surprisingly , not much has changed in the main .
There are some truly wonderful finds kept safe in this lovely museum , all found when excavating the city over the years . They include Roman pottery , building materials , jewellery , bottles , a silver spoon hoard – which , in particular , look untouched by time and seem so contemporary that it ’ s hard to imagine Romans using them centuries ago – and , of course , the stunning mosaic floor .
One of the many highlights of a visit to the Canterbury Roman Museum has to be this mosaic floor that was uncovered in 1868 when workmen were digging trenches for a new drainage system . Once the floor was discovered , work was stopped and the mosaic was preserved as it was found . Today , you can find it in the museum and although it is behind a glass wall to keep it safe , this takes nothing away from the experience . This is where Romans trod ; it ’ s where they went about their daily business ; it ’ s is where they planned and dreamed – and it ’ s possible to stand and stare , lost in the beauty and history of this piece of mosaic flooring for a good long while ( which is exactly what we did ). It ’ s a great talking point , and perfect for opening up new ideas and discussions . Did you know , for example , that the Romans were the first to invent underfloor heating ? It ’ s true , and the evidence is right here for all to see .
At the end of a full day out at Canterbury Roman Museum , there is a really fun interactive room for adults and children alike to enjoy . Here ’ s where you can get properly hands on with Roman exhibits – trying on helmets and armour , working out how to wear a toga , making your own mosaic and trying to identify a variety of different objects including Roman toilet paper ( a sea sponge on a stick !) and a notebook made of wax .
A visit to the Canterbury Roman Museum is a must when in the city – you ’ ll learn an awful lot more than you thought you would .
www . canterburyromanmuseum . co . uk
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