Rome Wasn't Built in a Day

[Alex]

This may be a little too Period even for here. Channel 4, Thursday evening at 9pm, Rome Wasn't Built in a Day.
The write up says that "Six skilled builders try to construct the first authentic Roman villa built in Britain for 1,600 years, using only tools and materials that were available to the Romans". Bearing in mind that this is a channel 4 production, would I be wrong in presuming that the "six skilled builders" are skilled in the use of lime and other such authentic materials ? At least we will all get to sit and watch and feel fairly smug.

Alex

 

[middi]

Now, let me think here.
6 builders to build an authentic Roman villa.
There is no way I am sitting in front of the telly for the next sixty years or so and wait for them to finish :wink:

Middi

 

[LadyArowana]

using only tools and materials that were available to the Romans

Now, let me think here.
6 builders to build an authentic Roman villa.
There is no way I am sitting in front of the telly for the next sixty years or so and wait for them to finish :wink:

Middi

6 builders, 5,000 slaves, simples!

 

[Feltwell]

Hmmm - well, it's being built just up the road from me, at Wroxeter (what was Viriconium - the fourth largest city in Roman Britain). When they've finished it's supposed to be handed over to English Heritage, so you would hope the methods used will be authentic.

Wroxeter is a strange place really - a major Roman city, that was not subsequently built over like most of the others - and yet very little of it has been excavated.

 

[essexbearhunter]

There is a page about the new villa on the English Heritage website:

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about/news/wroxeter-has-new-roman-villa/

 

[chuckey]

it just looks like it was.
Frank

 

[JohnB]

Did Roman builders wear hard hats and hi-viz vests, and shouldn't those safety signs be in Latin? :lol:.

 

[CatherineB]

Did Roman builders wear hard hats and hi-viz vests, and shouldn't those safety signs be in Latin? :lol:.

"Cave Cavum" you mean, John?!

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Traditional aluminium scaffolding too. Can I reserve a place here now to moan on about how bad it was, once episode one has been shown?

 

[Moo]

Save a place for me too, please, Gareth.



Oh, Bother.
They've covered themselves by saying, on the EH page, " Using local materials and traditional methods and tools as much as possible "

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Nothing in the elfin safety legislation to preclude the use of wooden scaffolding.

 

[Alex]

Its nice to see that everybody is looking forward to watching it on Thursday. What would we all moan about if we didn't have these tv programmes ?
I didn't realise that it was being built at Wroxeter, I went there once about 10 years ago, I don't know wether i should admit this on here but I do like Roman stuff. It would be nice to go back when its finished and have a look. Having walked around Roman sites like Caerwent and Caerleon, where you just get to look at low walls etc, I find it difficult to judge exactly how big the actual buildings would have been. I suppose its a bit like when people have new houses built and seem surprised when seeing the foundations and then the walls go up and they say "I didn't realise it was going to be so big".

Alex

 

[Feltwell]

Come on you lot, give it a chance!

And if you ever do find yourself at Wroxeter, please do take time to carry on a few hundred yards further up the lane - just past the church - and visit Wroxeter vineyard. It's ran by the family of one of my daughter's schoolfriends, they are very friendly and make some lovely English wine.

http://www.wroxetervineyard.co.uk/

 

[middi]

Those of you that have had the opportunity to personally see " Villa Adriana" in Tivoli near Rome will know how big a Roman villa can be. I would compare it to the size of an average English town and it's immediate suburbs. Encompassed within it's perimeter walls one will find lakes that will sustain " mock" sea battles complete with full size Roman war ships, private gladiators arena and chariot race circuit.

Those Romans knew how to live in the lap of luxury !!!.

OH, (nearly forgot).... He did manage to build one or two holiday " cottages " in England :wink:

Middi

 

[middi]

..........and a retaining wall :wink:

Middi

 

[FamilyWiggs]

..........and a retaining wall :wink:

Middi

Ah - they had to build a second, because the first was no good!

 

[middi]

..........and a retaining wall :wink:

Middi

Ah - they had to build a second, because the first was no good!

Sorry, " fortification" wall. They were scared of the Scots ( no change here then....) :wink:

Middi

 

[FamilyWiggs]

..........and a retaining wall :wink:

Middi

Ah - they had to build a second, because the first was no good!

Sorry, " fortification" wall. They were scared of the Scots ( no change here then....) :wink:

Middi

I was meaning the Antonine Wall and Hadrian's Wall. The Antonine was much further north but not really very successful at keeping the babarians at bay. :shock:

 

[worms]

I was meaning the Antonine Wall and Hadrian's Wall. The Antonine was much further north but not really very successful at keeping the babarians at bay.

I thought it was to keep them in!

 

[Penners]

I don't know whether i should admit this on here but I do like Roman stuff

Why would you not admit it? As I understand it the Romans were rather good at building, and one or two of their period properties still exist today.