3-082-424 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Roman Villa recently discovered at Darenth, Kent: remains of hypocausts of rooms adjoining the baths, 1895. View of '...the largest specimen of a Roman villa hitherto discovered in England...At the end of November several Roman tiles were noticed on the surface of the field by Mr. Clowes and Mr. Marchant...About a foot of earth had been removed when they were rewarded by signs of remains. First the pavement of a portico was revealed, next the tessellated floor of the atrium, then the baths, in an excellent state of preservation, till the foundations of what must have been a fine Roman villa were disclosed...further excavations have since been undertaken by Mr. George Payne, the well-known Rochester antiquary...The five or six hypocausts, or heating-chambers, testify to the desire of the owner of the villa to retain in England the warmth of Italy. The system of flues is in first-rate preservation. The walls of the various rooms have colours so fresh and bright that it is difficult to believe that the artists of them must have died at least fifteen centuries ago. A large number of visitors have travelled from London to Darenth, where one is once more reminded of the contributions to history and folk-lore which lie buried in the earth...'. From "Illustrated London News", 1895.