DR John Salvatore gave his talk “The Roman Bath House in Exeter” to a packed audience of Thorverton History Society members in the WI hut.

In AD 43 – 55 the Roman army invaded Britain. The Second Legion Augusta came to Exeter in about AD 55 led by their commander Vespasian. He captured the Isle of Wight (Vectsis) on his way here.

John recommends that you look out for metal information plaques in the Cathedral Close.

The legion consisted of about 10 cohorts plus cavalry. This would have been about 5 – 6,000 men and the same number of auxiliaries, so a very large army. There would also have been non combat personnel.

Very few would have been women or children unless they were the families of officers.

Some may have been outstationed in various forts away from Exeter like Cullompton, Tiverton or North Tawton. There is now evidence of non combatants being based in the area of the old St Loyes College in Topsham Road.

The Legion was only here until about 75/80 when they were transferred to Caerleon in South Wales. Military strategists and surveyors chose the site for the Legionary fortress. It was a naturally defensive site and they would have constructed a timber bridge over the Exe.

As recently as 1970 there was no evidence of a fort at Exeter.

It was archaeological excavations carried out in the Cathedral Close and the Guildhall site that revealed the evidence.

The original fortress of about 40 acres was smaller than the later city that was contained within the stone walls (about 200 acres).

As Romans built to a plan it was easier to work out and understand how the fortress was laid out. There were many barracks within the fortress with the Principia (HQ) near to the centre.

The excavations revealed graneries and timber buildings which had tiled roofs. The barrack blocks had small rooms that would accommodate 8 men in bunk beds.

By AD 60 the Roman Bath House had been built. This was the first stone construction in the south west and of a quality that would indicate a lengthy occupation but this was not to be the case. It was mainly constructed from local volcanic stone from Rougemont. It had mosaic floors, Purbec marble basins and windows and blue window glass.

The site director, Paul Bidwell, considers it to be the finest bath house in northern Europe and the finest architects would have been used in the construction. Excavations in the 1970’s revealed about half of the bath house. From the excavation site it would have extended toward the High Street. It had hot rooms, cold rooms and then a cold bath. There would have been a large swimming pool nearby and a large quantity of water would have been needed which came from the Sidwell Street area.

The bath house had a hypocaust floor and hot air from two furnaces was driven through the floor and walls. Bathing was very important for the troop based in Exeter as they worked hard and needed proper relaxation.

By AD 60 there was great unrest. Boudicca was leading her army and fighting the Romans. Three Roman legions were involved but not the one based in Exeter.

In Colchester she destroyed the temple of Claudius. The commander of the Exeter legion was ordered to join in the fighting but for reasons unknown he failed to do so and he kept improving the defensive ditches in Exeter, possibly to save the prestigious bath house.

If the legion moved out they risked losing the fortress and infrastructure to any insurgents. Boudicca was defeated but the local commander had failed to obey orders and he denied his legion battle honours. He took his own life by falling on his sword. In AD 73 the Second legion was transferred to Caerleon.

So what happened to the vacated fortress? The bath house was converted to a basilica / forum, the civic centre of Isca Dumnoniorum and the birth place of the City of Exeter. It remained in use until the 5th century.

To convert the building, the hypocaust system was filled in and new steps were added on the western side to form the entrance in about 80 AD.

The inhabitants of the new town needed baths but these were smaller affairs and were excavated by Lady Aileen Fox in Sidwell Street. The city started to acquire buildings of the type seen in Rome.

High Quality homes in the Mediterranean style were occupied by the good and the great of the time. The local people had embraced the Roman way of life.

What to do with the bath house following excavations? There was wish at the time to put it on permanent display with a roof over it to protect it from the elements but an oil crisis and a three day week prevented it.

The archaeology was covered in sand to protect it. Since then there have been talks about the possibility of opening it up to the public but funds cannot be raised for the project and it is not likely to happen in our lifetime but I was lucky enough to see it at the time as I worked on the excavations with John.

Robert Turner