Did you know that you can visit a Roman town.. in Hull?! A few weeks ago I headed down to give a talk to their Classical Association, and was keen to explore their museums while I was there. My first stop was the Hull and East Riding Museum of Archaeology. And was I in for a surprise – this is a must-visit for any Roman fans, big or small!
The museum itself covers a vast amount of history – 235 million years, to be exact – and is fantastically resourced: lots of bright, clear exhibitions with plenty of space. You can see the floor plan here: Hull and East Riding Museum. Mortimer the Mammoth is there to greet you as you start your journey, which begins at the Jurassic and Triassic periods and moves through the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age. Potter through the Celtic Village and you’ll eventually find yourself in a Romano-British town centre!
I had no idea this was in the museum so you can imagine my joy – you can walk through the reconstruction which has everything from paving stones to painted sky, and even some Latin graffiti! Monty Python fans will spot a familiar phrase on their way in, too. The exhibitions are cleverly incorporated into the reconstruction: windows in the buildings show off different Roman objects, including an impressive range of glassware and a HUGE collection of decorated terracotta lamps.
In the centre of the forum is also a beautiful original mosaic – one of many in the museum’s amazing collections! I was so impressed with the mosaics, they’re in pretty great condition and some of them are absolutely HUGE! You’ll find plenty more as you walk around the Roman town centre and onto the next site, a reconstructed Roman villa.
In the villa, you can walk through different rooms and see the different types of people at work in the household – not just the wealthy owners. Artefacts and objects are cleverly incorporated into the setting, giving a much more authentic and immersive viewing experience than you usually find in Roman galleries.
After the town and the house, it is time for a bath. Luckily, there is even a reconstructed room at the bath house to relax in – you can even eavesdrop on some Latin conversation. Make sure to take a peek at the medical and cosmetic tools on display in this room, too!
I nearly spent my whole afternoon just in the Roman galleries, and happily would have if I hadn’t a list of other things to see. What a hidden gem this was! It is an ideal spot for kiddos to experience what Roman life was like rather than just peer at objects on a shelf – and an absolute must for any KS2-ers embarking on their Roman topic! I can’t wait to go back with the 7yo – and naturally, we have a worksheet just in case!
wee classics 