Canterbury Roman Museum facts for kids
Entrance in Butchery Lane, Canterbury
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| Established | 1961 1994 after refurbishment |
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| Location | 11a Butchery Lane, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2JR |
| Type | Scheduled monument, heritage centre |
| Collection size | Roman pavement; excavated Roman artefacts |
| Public transit access | Rail: Canterbury West; Canterbury East Buses: National Express, Stagecoach |
The Canterbury Roman Museum in Canterbury, Kent, is a cool place to explore ancient Roman history! It's built around a real Roman pavement that's super old and important. This pavement is part of a Roman courtyard house that was discovered after World War II bombing. The museum first opened its doors in 1961 and was updated in 1994. Inside, you'll find many amazing objects found during digs in Roman Canterbury. These include a special silver treasure and models showing what the Roman town looked like.
Contents
Exploring Roman Canterbury's Past
How Canterbury Became Roman
Around the year 43 AD, the Romans arrived in Kent. They took over a settlement by the River Stour. They called this new town Durovernum Cantiacorum. This name meant "stronghold of the Cantiaci by an Alder marsh." The Cantiaci were the local people living there. The Romans built the town with a plan, adding a theatre, a temple, a marketplace, and public baths.
Later, around 300 AD, to protect the town from attacks, a big wall was built. This wall had seven gates and surrounded an area of about 130 acres. Roman Canterbury was at its busiest and best around this time. The Roman house with the famous pavement was near other important public buildings. The Romans left Britain around 410 AD, and the house was probably used until then.
Finding and Protecting the Roman Pavement
The amazing Roman pavement was found on June 1, 1942, after bombs hit during World War II. Archaeologists Audrey Williams and Sheppard Frere started digging it up in 1945. People could visit the site from 1946, and even royalty came to see it! More digging happened between 1958 and 1961. That's when the Roman Pavement Museum was built right over it.
In 1994, the museum was made even better and renamed the Roman Museum. It's now a protected site, meaning it's very important and kept safe. More discoveries were made in 1990 by the Canterbury Archaeological Trust. They found that this Roman house had been changed many times over the years. It had more rooms, hallways, and mosaics before it was left empty in the 5th century. Parts of one of Britain's biggest Roman theatres were also found nearby.
The museum helps people learn about Canterbury's history. It also celebrates the archaeologists who have been uncovering the city's past since the 1800s. When you go down into the museum, each step you take represents 100 years of history. You go deeper into the past until you reach the 300 AD level where the pavement is.
What You Can See at the Museum
The Amazing Mosaic Pavement
Over hundreds of years, new buildings in Canterbury have raised the ground level. So, the Roman pavement is now underground! You can see it right where it was found. It's part of a Roman town house and even has a hypocaust (an ancient Roman underfloor heating system). The pavement has three beautiful mosaic panels that decorated a hallway in the Roman house. It dates back to around 300 AD and is kept safe with a special air conditioning system.
Cool Objects Found During Digs
The museum displays many objects found during excavations. You can see small statues of household gods, including one shaped like a horse. There's also lots of Roman glass, some with fancy designs. You'll find silver spoons, an axe, tweezers, a plumb weight, and even dice! A special silver hoard (a hidden collection of valuable items) from the 5th century AD is also on display.
You can also see military items. These include metal parts of cavalry horse harnesses that have been put back together. There are also two cavalry swords (called spathae) found with two burials. You can also see roof tiles and floor tiles. One even has a dog's footprints on it!
Recreated Roman Life
The museum has recreated parts of a Roman house, including a kitchen. There's also a Roman market place, probably like the one in the forum. You can see a cobbler (shoe maker), a haberdasher (who sells small sewing items), a greengrocer, and a fast food seller. The cobbler display is there because archaeologists found real cut-out leather pieces for sandals. You can see these original pieces and how the sandals were made. These sandals even had strong soles! A computer screen shows what the Roman house might have looked like. There's also a "time-tunnel" display that explains how the Romans left the town.
Fun Interactive Activities
You can use an interactive screen to explore the Roman Temple site in Canterbury. Before you leave, you can even touch real Roman objects! A guide will help you figure out what they are. There are also fun activities like "Make your own magnetic mosaics" and "Dress like a Roman." These are great for learning and having fun at any age.
Images for kids
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Early 5th century Roman silver spoons from the Canterbury Treasure, found in the Longmarket area of the city.
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Room with hypocaust, and firebox behind. Walls are Grade I listed
See also
- Herne Bay Museum
- Westgate, Canterbury
- Westgate Hall, Canterbury
- Whitstable Museum and Gallery
