Folkestone had an exciting discovery in 1923. A landslip on the East Cliff caused a drain to be exposed, which contained a Roman tile. According to the Ward Lock Red Guide for 1933 - 34, a Mr. S. E. Winbolt took charge, and along with twenty men they uncovered the remains of a large Roman villa and an annexe separated by a yard and a court. They also revealed that the site was occupied by the Britons prior to the Roman invasion in A.D.43 and that before the end of the century it was inhabited by the Romans, who continued to reside there until the last quarter of the fourth century.
Portions of tesselated floor were laid bare, and the underground heating system exposed. Visitors of the day could look at the cold plunge bath, and see what was the warm bath room. There are still coins, tiles and pottery on display at the Folkestone Museum on Grace Hill, but the remains of the buildings were covered over in 1957.
In 1933 however, you could visit the site which was open daily during the season, including Sundays, from 9 to 1 and 2:30 to 7 p.m. for the bargain price of 3d for adults and 1d for children.
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The main corridor and rooms adjoining.
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The furnace arch in 1924
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The Apse Bath and big hypocaust.
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Another view of the Apse bath showing the floor and arch of the hypocaust.
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The Martello Tower in the distance will give you a better idea of exactly where the Roman site is situated.
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Here are the sixteen buttresses that were uncovered.
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I am sure when this floor was first laid, it was in vivid colours. I wonder if it still was when they uncovered it?
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This was a Roman kitchen. I wonder what they made in those days? Pizza and pasta? Probably not! :-)
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