Billingsgate Roman House and Baths, Roman bath complex in Lower Thames Street, England
Billingsgate Roman House and Baths is a Roman bath complex with remains from the late 2nd and 3rd centuries beneath Lower Thames Street. The excavated structures show a residential building and adjoining bathhouse with interconnected rooms served by an underground heating system.
The remains were discovered in 1848 during Coal Exchange construction, making this the first preserved archaeological site in the City of London. This discovery provided early evidence of Roman settlement at this strategic riverside location.
The bathhouse reveals how Romans used these three spaces - cold, warm, and hot - as part of daily life and leisure. The subterranean heating system made hot bathing accessible to those who visited this public facility.
Access is typically through guided tours arranged in advance, as the site is located beneath street level and underground. You should contact ahead to confirm availability and timing, as visits depend on scheduling and seasonal conditions.
A Saxon brooch discovered in the collapsed roof rubble shows that people continued to use this place long after the Romans left Britain. This find suggests the structures were not immediately abandoned but saw activity for decades afterward.
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