New archaeology tours at the Roman Baths as part of The Archway Project
Posted on: 30 Jan 2018Bath’s Roman Baths is one of the best historical sites in Europe, and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the UK. Since 2011, the Roman Baths have been undergoing a £5.5 million redevelopment project making sure that the site not only offers the best possible visitor experience but ensuring its preservation for the future.
Picture Credit; Bath & North East Somerset Council
The next stage is now set to open as part of The Archway Project which will create a new Clore Learning Centre for the Roman Baths.
The fascinating new tours will take visitors behind the scenes of the largest archaeological excavations at the Roman Baths for more than 30 years.
The 20-minute tours are free with admission to the Roman Baths and will run at regular intervals throughout February and will give visitors access to the excavations taking place in vaults which are not normally open to the public.
Highlights of the new tours will include;
- A Roman exercise area, which will be part of a new Investigation Zone, in which schoolchildren will be able to carry out research in and amongst Roman remains when it opens in 2019.
- An in-situ stylobate – a colonnaded walkway which contains a Roman doorway leading through to a possible row of shops, where traders might have sold memorabilia to visitors, oil for the sauna, or food and drink.
- The other side of the south wall of the Great Bath, behind the curved alcoves (exedra) where people relaxed.
- A Roman culvert, and pipe work and drains from Georgian and Victorian times.
- A wall where you can see archaeological deposits (stratigraphy) dating back 2,000 years.
Councillor Paul Myers, Cabinet Member for Economic and Community Regeneration, said: “The tours are a great chance for visitors to go behind the scenes, meet archaeologists and possibly watch them at work discovering even more about the history of our treasured Roman Baths. It’s also great for any Bath and North East Somerset residents with a Discovery Card because these archaeology tours are free with the card.”
For more information go to www.romanbaths.co.uk
Article by:
Sarah's natural habitat is anywhere cosy, preferably with a cup of tea. She is a lover of afternoon tea, Sunday roasts and BBQ. Sarah is passionate about supporting indie shops, stands, markets and restaurants, and has a particular weakness for Stuff In Jars, knitting and rose-flavoured puddings.