Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-07-02
ROMAN HOUSES IN LONDON.
in Britain Nearly 1000 Years
HaIper's Magazine


The houses of the better class can be re.
constructed from the Roman villas whose
foundations have been laid bare in vari-
Gus parts of the country. A very great
number have been found and partially ex-
amined by excavations. Some of them
are of size and splendor which denote
great wealth, as we'll as a feeling of pro-
found security. They have been found
for the most part, in the southern counties,
Many are in Kent-a county which, so
long as the Count of the Saxon shore pro
tected its coasts, was the safest part of
been found in Lincolnshire, and there are
is not fair, in considering the trader
ruins of such a villa as that which has
been laid bare at Woodchester, in Glouces-
tershire. Here we find sitting-rooms fifty
feet square ranged about courts or gardens
a hundred and hundred and fifty feet
square; here are splendid tasseled pave
ments, fresco paintings, fragments of
statues and groups, Samian ware, and
every indication of art and luxury. We
need not suppose that London merchants
lived in palaces. Into the lofty, brilliant,
well-heated apartments of the finer houses
there was thrown confused mass Of fur
niture not unworthy of the richest palaces
of modern days. Cushions and lounges of
crimson silk and Ba5ylonian tapestry sur
rounded the banqueting tables and walls;
mirrors of metal or glass shone on all
sides. Glass windows let in the inconsis-
tent sunlight; and candles, lamps, and
candelabra in the winter evenings, scat
tered ever the rooms on tripods, tables,
inches, and, perhaps, hung aioft on the
ceiling, threw down sufficient light. The
Infinite number and varied forms of their
lamps show the care the Romans gave to
lighting their rooms and their taste noe
tural amusement. Carpets, rugs and mat
ting were thrown upon the mosaic floor
Statues of real merit stood around In artis-
tic negligence. Tables of citron wood, or
marble tripods, book shelves and stands,
glass vaces of all forms and modes, rich
with green, red, or purple dyes, shone on
the Roman side board. GobIets. pitchers,
and vaces Of the delicate red Samian ware
added to the glow of color; they were so
fragile that only fragments of the finer
kind have been preserved. In the midst
of his luxurious home sat the London
curial, or alderman Of the Roman time, on
his curnle chair, surrounded by wife and
children, clothed in the richest fabrics of
the day, and all glittering with rings
jewels, armletS, bracelets, some of which
have been left to tell their tale. On the
bones Of woman arm In Mr.. Roach
Smith collection are seen three bracelets
of gold, with gems and rare chasings.
To complete the picture or the home of
the Roman period, we must add great
number of articles of convenience or
of comfort that would seem to Us
almost exclusively modern. Chairs,
lounges, sofas, bedsteads. chests, closets,
drawers, curtains, glass vessels, mirrors,
and vaces, lunches of keys, and great
variety of kitchen utensils, gold and silver
baskets and urns for money,
great amphorH filed with wine, and the
well;stored kitchens of the wealthy, made
up the requirements of Roman life
These the barbarous Saxons pIundered or
destroyed chiefly from fear that magic
lay in all objects of art. A garden in the
front of the villa, filed with roses from
Postum and lilies and violets, was never
forgotten icy a people 50 fond of flowers;
baths, hot and cold, were attached 10 every
large house. Fourteen Ger turtles and the
ravages of the Saxon and Dane have cover
ed Roman London with a cloud Of mystery
that no one has been able to remove.