Crofton Roman Villa

A unique part of Bromley's heritage. Villa closed in 2024 due to major refurbishment and repairs.

[Crofton Roman Villa @CroftonVilla]

The Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit: Updated publications list available now!

[Crofton Roman Villa @CroftonVilla]

This much awaited book is a second edition covering the first fifty years recorded in the first edition, but adding another twenty years of events and sites up until 2022. To order, send a cheque of £24 to Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit, 18 Highfield Avenue, Orpington, BR6 6LF.

[Crofton Roman Villa @CroftonVilla]

Find out how KARU’s excavations in 1979 pushed back the history of Gravesend by 1,000 and 5,000 years respectively in our new publication. Neolithic and Roman settlements were discovered under the existing car parks prior to the construction of St George's shopping centre.

[Crofton Roman Villa @CroftonVilla]

@thedonutpuncher

[Crofton Roman Villa @CroftonVilla]

What’s better than chocolate Easter eggs? A shiny, new (pink!) archaeological report from KARU! Unusually for an area of heavy soils, this report concludes that Meopham, Kent, attracted settlement during the late-Neolithic, the late-Iron Age, early-Roman and late Saxon periods.

[Crofton Roman Villa @CroftonVilla]

@thedonutpuncher Absolutely! We will share the updated volume list this week!

[Crofton Roman Villa @CroftonVilla]

@SteveSangster We would love you to stay in touch! The best way to do this is via our social media or email [email protected]

[Crofton Roman Villa @CroftonVilla]

Do you have a Crofton Roman Villa-shaped hole in your heart this spring? Although our villa is not open due to renovations, the Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit have released new reports, including: 'Excavations at Allington Castle, near Maidstone, 2013-21' by Dr Brian Philp.

[Crofton Roman Villa @CroftonVilla]

@romanarchaeouk Yes! Or alternatively you can email [email protected]. I love that book too, I have a whole shelf dedicated to Brian's books at home :)

[Crofton Roman Villa @CroftonVilla]

Wishing all of our followers, visitors and supporters a very happy New Year!
https://t.co/hYfaWT3UHd

[Crofton Roman Villa @CroftonVilla]

Io Saturnalia!

Today marks the beginning of Saturnalia, a mid-winter celebration held in honour of the god Saturn. It was a time of "letting go" and feasting. The Roman poet Catullus described it as "optime dierum" - the "best of days" - in one of his poems.

[Crofton Roman Villa @CroftonVilla]

The cost of building a Roman villa...

[CAFG @Camb_Arch_F_G]

@CroftonVilla @romanarchaeouk Phil Mills @Tileman_and_son has calculated that a teg/imbrex pair would have cost the equivalent of £50 in today's money - that's £1/4M just for the materials at Crofton!

[Crofton Roman Villa @CroftonVilla]

@Camb_Arch_F_G @romanarchaeouk @Tileman_and_son Isn't that just incredible? I wonder how much the entire villa would cost to build in today's money!?

[Crofton Roman Villa @CroftonVilla]

Fallen roof tiles which was unearthed on the west side of Crofton Roman Villa. It has been calculated that as many as 5,000 tegulae would have been needed to cover the entire villa and perhaps as many imbrices!

[Crofton Roman Villa @CroftonVilla]

From this plan, you can see that Crofton Roman Villa began as a basic rectangular structure. Room 7 was later created by dividing the West Corridor. Amazingly, the complete skeleton of a sheep/ goat was found carefully tucked into a pit in a corner of the room!

[Crofton Roman Villa @CroftonVilla]

This is a photograph of the grand open-day of the excavation site of Crofton Roman Villa, taken in 1988! The villa was due to be destroyed to build a new car park. Luckily, the Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit was given 10 weeks to fully excavate the site.

[Crofton Roman Villa @CroftonVilla]

Crofton Roman Villa is now closed for the winter. Thank you to everyone who has supported us through visiting us, a group or school visit, watching our virtual tours or following us on social media!

[Crofton Roman Villa @CroftonVilla]

Tomorrow is your last chance to visit Crofton Roman Villa, a unique part of Bromley's heritage and the only Roman villa open to the public in Greater London, before we close for the winter!

[Crofton Roman Villa @CroftonVilla]

A number of oysters shells were recovered during the excavation of Crofton Roman Villa, suggesting that the inhabitants enjoyed consuming oysters. Although Crofton Roman Villa is not located near to the sea, we know that they were fished from oyster beds in the Thames Estuary.