There was an element of nostalgia about my trip to Fishbourne Roman palace. The last time I visited I was on a school trip (and no, I'm not saying how long ago that was). My timing was good - the weather was wonderful, and as it was a Bank Holiday the Roman re-enactment society the Ermine Street Guard were putting on a display. They pride themselves about getting the details of the Roman Army as correct as possible, and they certainly put on an impressive show.
Fishbourne Roman palace was discovered in the 1960s, and it came as quite a surprise. It was thought at the time that lavish villas on this scale were a product of later periods, but as archeologists started to study the site, it became clear that the complex at Fishbourne dated to very soon after the invasion. While no inscriptions stating it outright have yet been found, the general thinking now is that the palace belonged to King Cogidubnus, a client king who knew which side his bread was buttered.
The palace was huge, with about 100 rooms, and it came with all the Roman mod cons, from the largest collection of mosaics in situ in the UK to hypocaust systems to extensive gardens, replanted using the original first century bedding trenches. Only around half the site has been excavated, as the rest lies beneath a road and houses, but what is on display is fascinating.
If you'd like to visit, Fishbourne is easy to get to from London. You can take the train from London Victoria towards Portsmouth, and change at Barnham for the Fishbourne train. From there it's roughly a ten-minute walk to the site.
For more information on events and what to see, check out Fishbourne Roman Palace.
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