Archaeology in the City - Sites to Visit (July-September)

Well one or two are slightly beyond the boundaries ...

Roman Wall (Merrill Lynch)

Billingsgate Roman Bath House, Lower Thames Street (Saturday 14th / Sunday 15th July; Saturday 22nd / Sunday 23rd September)
11am - 4pm

Billingsgate Roman Bath House is the only visible Roman bath house in London. Discovered in the mid 19th century, it was one of the first scheduled monuments in London, and has remained a famous site in the archaeology of Roman London. In 2011, Managing Archaeological Sites and Conservation students from the Institute of Archaeology worked with Nimbus Conservation to carry out important conservation measures on the site, in order to open it to the public. 2011 saw the opening of the site to visitors during summer events. This year, Applied Heritage Management students from the Institute have worked to open the site for the Festival of British Archaeology and Open House London.  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Billingsgate-Roman-Bath-House/219736961392359 

Winchester Palace, Southwark (Sunday 15th July)
Little remains of the Palace of the Bishop of Winchester in Southwark, which was once one of the most important buildings in medieval London. The visible remains of the palace were part of the Great Hall, which stood alongside the river Thames. In the past, many important visitors were entertained here; James I of Scotland and Joan Beaufort held their wedding reception here after their marriage in Southwark Cathedral in 1424. In 1540, Henry VIII probably met his fifth wife, Catherine Howard here.


Spitalfields Charnel House (Saturday 22nd September)

The Medieval Charnel House at Spitalfields is a popular attraction during Open House London each year. Built in the early 1300s, it functioned as a crypt within the cemetery of the St Mary Spital priory. It was used for more than 200 years as a repository for bones to be relocated in consecrated ground to allow further burials in the hospital graveyard. In the nearby cemetery, the burial of a rich Roman woman was discovered, now on display in the Museum of London. http://www.spitalfields.co.uk/about_archeology.php#.T7tbc5utEjo

(Thanks to Valeria Bellazzi and David Brown for this information)

Remains of Western Gate, Roman Fort (London Wall)

The Museum of London are offering additional dates for their public
guided visits to the western gate of London's Roman military fort,
located beneath the roadway of London Wall in the underground car park
next to the Museum.


It is a remarkable excavation and well worth half an hour one
afternoon. Admission is FREE but you need to ask for a ticket at the
Reception Desk upon arrival.


The dates are Friday January 20, 2012, Friday 17 February, Friday
16th March, Friday 20 April, Friday 18 May, Friday 15 June & Friday
20th July. There are two tours each day, 2-2.30pm and 3-3.30pm.
http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/London-Wall/Whats-on/Events/eventDetails.htm?eventID=3133


Hidden Gem!

Display in Bank

Beneath the Bank of America Merrill Lynch building there are remains of the Roman and later Medieval London Wall. Visit by appointment, however, sometimes people just turn up and taken to see it. Beautifully preserved in its own space and forms part of the office scheme, all paid for by the Bank.

Julian Fitzpatrick
Site Security Manager
Vision Security Group
Europe/CEEMEA Corporate Security Protective Services
Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Office : 0207 996 1980
Business Mobile : 07894481911
Email : Julian.Fitzpatrick@BAML

Address : 2 King Edward Street
London, EC1A 1HQ