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  • May 11, 1861
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  • THE REMAINS OF ANCIENT ROMAN BATHS IN ENGLAND.
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The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, May 11, 1861: Page 6

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Architecture And Archæology.

of such a practice . A coloured statue or bust now and then can do no harm , perhaps rather good , as they may serve to show they will not do . But there is a great deal of fashion in art . Fashion is often very unreasonable , and if a fashion were to set in for idols instead of statues , I believe it would do for the time a deal of mischief . Moreover , as a matter of sense and probability , is it possible to

consider that the uncoloured statues of the Venus of Onidus , and of the Moses , and Night and Morning , of Michel Angelo , and the noble works of Thorwaldsen and Flaxman are ' but incomplete steps , half-way as it were ( and as having left the true track of the arts ) between the first struggling idolatrous attempts when images were all painted—and a more advanced and perfect period , forsooth , when the same barbaric principles are to be reproduced and practiced ? ( To lie continued . )

The Remains Of Ancient Roman Baths In England.

THE REMAINS OF ANCIENT ROMAN BATHS IN ENGLAND .

A paper read hy EDWARD HAUOHTOX , M . D ., before the Architectural ancl Arehceological Society of Liverpool , 17 th April , 1861 . Much curiosity exists as to the nature ofthe Ancient Eoman Bath , the accounts which have been of it being often full of discrepancies . This arises to some extent from actual differences in the Eoman system of bathing at different periods , hut generally speaking it arises from blindly copying what others have

writtenwith-, out any investigation whatever of the sources of their information . Fortunately we are not altogether dependent upon the " tender mercies " of compilers of classical dictionaries , but have means of informing cm-selves on the subject , by the investigation of ancient ruins at our own doors , pregnant with relics of the past , ancl conveying to tiie educated eye much which is invaluable for helping us in the decision of present difficulties . It mayperhapsbe supposed that there are no ruins now

exist-, , ing which are capable of affording accurate information on tho subject , and , to a certain extent , this cannot be denied ; but when the ruins recently excavated are compared with those of which detailed descriptions have been laid before scientific societies , many difficulties are got rid of which otherwise would be insuperable ; ancl the entire system of bathing practised by the Eomans becomes sufficiently manifest . The localities in which the most perfect ruins have been foundare so distant from one anotherand so

, , ivell distributed over the country , as to prove that the custom of using thermal baths had become national , as will appear from the mere mention of the places , viz .: —Lincoln , Chester , Houghton parish , Kent ; Carisbrooke , Isle of AVight ; and more recently , Uriconium , near Shrewsbury . Those enumerated have heen found in a tolerable state of

preservation , but traces of similar buildings occur in almost every district of the country , Thc bath at Chester has been a good deal talked of lately , and was described by me in detail , at a meeting of the lloyal JDublin Society , Lord Talbot do Malahicle in the chair . I visited it personally on the 30 th of November , 1857 , while bringing an invalid from JDublin to Florence , ancl it was owing to my not being able to find anywhere a correct account of itthat I undertook to bring the

, subject before the Eoyal Dublin Society , which I did on the Sth of January , 1 S 5 D . The ruins of Uriconium arc worthy of far more attention than has yet been given to them , and the most interesting portion of them is fast disappearing under the band of time . With a view of satisfying my own mind as to the nature of the buildings found there , I made a special trip to Shrewsbury about three weeks ago , ancl walked along the beautiful valley of the Severn until I

came to the site of the ancient city . AVhen pretty near the spot , I asked a man who ivas digging if he know whereabouts the old Eoman city was ? lie replied , that there ivas no such thing there now ; but he could direst me to " what they called the excavations . " AVhen I arrived , I was a little disappointed at the small extent of ground which had been excavated in the space of two years , but I was rejoiced to see five distinct systems of tile pillars , belonging to

as many hypocausts , which , according to Jlr . Thomas AVright , and the most competent authorities , belonged to tho baths , or thermic , occupying , with their appurtenances , nearly half the space which hacl been uncovered . That Uriconium was a city of considerable magnitude , admits of no doubt , as the fact may be proved in several ways ; whether we consult ancient records , or the accounts of buildings formerly discovered in tbe same locality , or visit in person the excavations lately made on the property of the Duke of Cleveland . These excavations were commenced on the 3 rd of February , 1859 , and a

person is continually in charge , in order to prevent the speedy demolition of the buildings , & c , by " cockneys " of an inquiring mind , who not merely stumble against the ricketty pillars , hut generally pocket something or other , as a trophy of having " clone " the city of Uriconium . I cannot say whether the disintegration which the tiles are undergoing is owing to the effect of exposure to the weather , or the original quality ; but it is certain they are rapidly falling

topieces , and many parts now supposed to be in situ have evidently fallen down , and been built up again . That the Eomans knew how to manufacture goocl tiles is well known , for those in the bath at Chester ancl elsewhere are very hard , ancl of remarkably good quality ; but they are perforated with small holes at regular intervals , which those of Uriconium are not . In the latter city there are no bricks visible , such as we manufacture , but stoneis freely used ,, and tiles are employed in all laces where nice workmanshiis

p p required . They are not , however , by any means accurate in either size or shape ; but are rough , uneven , ancl irregular in appearance .. The general size of these forming the pillars of the alveus ( or body of the hypocaust ) is about 7 inches square , hy li--inch thick , standing upon others about a foot square , and each pillar surmounted bj- another tile of the same size . In the most perfect of the hypocausts I counted sixteen tiles in one of the pillars ,,

cemented together , and making a total height of 3 feet 6 inches . _ VTosfc of the pillars showed no trace of cement between the tiles ,. and were either originally laid without cement or hacl fallen downancl been rebuilt . In each hypocaust there were a goocl manypillars , and the largest measures 43 feet in length hy 35 feet in width . In height they were about 5 feet , counting a layer of concrete which was laid on the upper tiles to a depth of from Id- to IS inches , and appeared to have been put down in two distinct operations .

In order to make somewhat more distinct the manner of heating employed by the ancient Eomaiis , 1 have had two diagrams prepared , in which the principal features are well brought out . One represents a hypocaust accidentally discovered at Lincoln , by Mr . T . Sympson , in 1709 . Many persons finding charcoal or ashes in the alvei of different hypocausts have come to the erroneous conclusion that the whole of the interior was intended to contain fuel , but the evidence at our disposal goes decidedlagainst this

y sup position . For , in every bath hitherto discovered , the fornax itself ancl the pillars next it have suffered much from the flames , but neither fuel nor its effects are found in the body of the alveus . Of course it would be impossible to prevent small pieces of charcoal and ashes from being sucked in by the draught ; but this fact proves the nature of the alveus even more plainly , as it is only such debris that is ever found in it . In the diagram before you , two

shafts aro represented going down a depth of 13 feet before they , reach the hypocaust , and through one of them a little boy was le ' fc into the alveus , who , after groping about among the pillars , presently returned as black as a chimney-sweep . Mr . Sympson further describes the room , thus , " The walls of this room were plastered , and the plaster painted red , blue , ancl other colours , and its floor tesselated white . This pavement is about 13 feet below the present surface of the ground , being on a level with the testudo of the hypocaust , so deep was old Liiidum buried in its ruins . The workmen in digging up this pavement struck into the flue , 3 feet from the north-east corner of the hypocaust , and opened it into

the corner , and so the whole was discovered . " The same gentleman in allusion to another hypocaust ( of wliich I have here a lithograph ) , says "thc hypocaust above mentioned must have been a much hotter room than this , for instead of the flues being carried under another room , the walls of the sweating-room itself were hollow or double , and a great number of flues carried up between them all round the room . A curious model of this is still to be seen in the Museum of the Eoyal Societ" The same author

meny . tions that pieces of wood-coal ( i . e charcoal ) were found in the fornax . At Uriconium the guide showed me a piece of charcoal which was found in ono of the furnaces there , and which differed but little from the charcoal commonly sold in France as fuel . Some ordinary stone coal was also found in the western preftiriiium . AAlien at Uriconium , I also endeavoured to ascertain the dimensions of the furnaces there , but found it extremely difficult to decide the

points from which to measure , as there was so much loss of substance in the most important parts . As near as I could guess , the largest furnace was 11 inches wide and 3 feet 2 inches high , ancl the next in size , 2 feet C inches high by the same width . Tne onl y flue remaining was in the eastern hypocaust , ancl measured 1 foot iu width by 2 feet in height . You will observe in the foregoing description that a considerable thickness of concrete is spoken of

as forming the chief part of the roof of the hypocaust , or floor of the sudatorium . Tho object of this was to ensure equality of temperature , as when thoroughly heated it took a long time to cool , and therefore the temperature of the bath was little affected by ' any temporary neglect . The modern Turks adopt a somewhat similar

“The Freemasons' Monthly Magazine: 1861-05-11, Page 6” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 23 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmr/issues/mmr_11051861/page/6/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
OUR CHARITIES. Article 1
MEMOIRS OF THE FREEMASONS OF NAPLES. Article 1
ARCHITECTURE AND ARCHÆOLOGY. Article 3
THE REMAINS OF ANCIENT ROMAN BATHS IN ENGLAND. Article 6
GENERAL ARCHITECTURAL INTELLIGENCE. Article 7
MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES. Article 8
NOTES ON LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND ART. Article 10
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 11
KNIGHTS TEMPLAR. Article 11
THE ASYLUM FOR AGED MASONS AND THEIR WIDOWS. Article 12
A CASE OF DISTRESS. Article 12
THE MASONIC MIRROR. Article 12
METROPOLITAN. Article 12
ROYAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION FOR AGED MASONS AND THEIR WIDOWS. Article 14
PROVINCIAL. Article 14
COLONIAL. Article 14
ROYAL ARCH. Article 15
KNIGHTS TEMPLAR. Article 15
SCOTLAND. Article 16
INDIA. Article 17
THE WEEK. Article 18
NOTES ON MUSIC AND THE DRAMA. Article 20
TO CORRESPONDENTS. Article 20
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Architecture And Archæology.

of such a practice . A coloured statue or bust now and then can do no harm , perhaps rather good , as they may serve to show they will not do . But there is a great deal of fashion in art . Fashion is often very unreasonable , and if a fashion were to set in for idols instead of statues , I believe it would do for the time a deal of mischief . Moreover , as a matter of sense and probability , is it possible to

consider that the uncoloured statues of the Venus of Onidus , and of the Moses , and Night and Morning , of Michel Angelo , and the noble works of Thorwaldsen and Flaxman are ' but incomplete steps , half-way as it were ( and as having left the true track of the arts ) between the first struggling idolatrous attempts when images were all painted—and a more advanced and perfect period , forsooth , when the same barbaric principles are to be reproduced and practiced ? ( To lie continued . )

The Remains Of Ancient Roman Baths In England.

THE REMAINS OF ANCIENT ROMAN BATHS IN ENGLAND .

A paper read hy EDWARD HAUOHTOX , M . D ., before the Architectural ancl Arehceological Society of Liverpool , 17 th April , 1861 . Much curiosity exists as to the nature ofthe Ancient Eoman Bath , the accounts which have been of it being often full of discrepancies . This arises to some extent from actual differences in the Eoman system of bathing at different periods , hut generally speaking it arises from blindly copying what others have

writtenwith-, out any investigation whatever of the sources of their information . Fortunately we are not altogether dependent upon the " tender mercies " of compilers of classical dictionaries , but have means of informing cm-selves on the subject , by the investigation of ancient ruins at our own doors , pregnant with relics of the past , ancl conveying to tiie educated eye much which is invaluable for helping us in the decision of present difficulties . It mayperhapsbe supposed that there are no ruins now

exist-, , ing which are capable of affording accurate information on tho subject , and , to a certain extent , this cannot be denied ; but when the ruins recently excavated are compared with those of which detailed descriptions have been laid before scientific societies , many difficulties are got rid of which otherwise would be insuperable ; ancl the entire system of bathing practised by the Eomans becomes sufficiently manifest . The localities in which the most perfect ruins have been foundare so distant from one anotherand so

, , ivell distributed over the country , as to prove that the custom of using thermal baths had become national , as will appear from the mere mention of the places , viz .: —Lincoln , Chester , Houghton parish , Kent ; Carisbrooke , Isle of AVight ; and more recently , Uriconium , near Shrewsbury . Those enumerated have heen found in a tolerable state of

preservation , but traces of similar buildings occur in almost every district of the country , Thc bath at Chester has been a good deal talked of lately , and was described by me in detail , at a meeting of the lloyal JDublin Society , Lord Talbot do Malahicle in the chair . I visited it personally on the 30 th of November , 1857 , while bringing an invalid from JDublin to Florence , ancl it was owing to my not being able to find anywhere a correct account of itthat I undertook to bring the

, subject before the Eoyal Dublin Society , which I did on the Sth of January , 1 S 5 D . The ruins of Uriconium arc worthy of far more attention than has yet been given to them , and the most interesting portion of them is fast disappearing under the band of time . With a view of satisfying my own mind as to the nature of the buildings found there , I made a special trip to Shrewsbury about three weeks ago , ancl walked along the beautiful valley of the Severn until I

came to the site of the ancient city . AVhen pretty near the spot , I asked a man who ivas digging if he know whereabouts the old Eoman city was ? lie replied , that there ivas no such thing there now ; but he could direst me to " what they called the excavations . " AVhen I arrived , I was a little disappointed at the small extent of ground which had been excavated in the space of two years , but I was rejoiced to see five distinct systems of tile pillars , belonging to

as many hypocausts , which , according to Jlr . Thomas AVright , and the most competent authorities , belonged to tho baths , or thermic , occupying , with their appurtenances , nearly half the space which hacl been uncovered . That Uriconium was a city of considerable magnitude , admits of no doubt , as the fact may be proved in several ways ; whether we consult ancient records , or the accounts of buildings formerly discovered in tbe same locality , or visit in person the excavations lately made on the property of the Duke of Cleveland . These excavations were commenced on the 3 rd of February , 1859 , and a

person is continually in charge , in order to prevent the speedy demolition of the buildings , & c , by " cockneys " of an inquiring mind , who not merely stumble against the ricketty pillars , hut generally pocket something or other , as a trophy of having " clone " the city of Uriconium . I cannot say whether the disintegration which the tiles are undergoing is owing to the effect of exposure to the weather , or the original quality ; but it is certain they are rapidly falling

topieces , and many parts now supposed to be in situ have evidently fallen down , and been built up again . That the Eomans knew how to manufacture goocl tiles is well known , for those in the bath at Chester ancl elsewhere are very hard , ancl of remarkably good quality ; but they are perforated with small holes at regular intervals , which those of Uriconium are not . In the latter city there are no bricks visible , such as we manufacture , but stoneis freely used ,, and tiles are employed in all laces where nice workmanshiis

p p required . They are not , however , by any means accurate in either size or shape ; but are rough , uneven , ancl irregular in appearance .. The general size of these forming the pillars of the alveus ( or body of the hypocaust ) is about 7 inches square , hy li--inch thick , standing upon others about a foot square , and each pillar surmounted bj- another tile of the same size . In the most perfect of the hypocausts I counted sixteen tiles in one of the pillars ,,

cemented together , and making a total height of 3 feet 6 inches . _ VTosfc of the pillars showed no trace of cement between the tiles ,. and were either originally laid without cement or hacl fallen downancl been rebuilt . In each hypocaust there were a goocl manypillars , and the largest measures 43 feet in length hy 35 feet in width . In height they were about 5 feet , counting a layer of concrete which was laid on the upper tiles to a depth of from Id- to IS inches , and appeared to have been put down in two distinct operations .

In order to make somewhat more distinct the manner of heating employed by the ancient Eomaiis , 1 have had two diagrams prepared , in which the principal features are well brought out . One represents a hypocaust accidentally discovered at Lincoln , by Mr . T . Sympson , in 1709 . Many persons finding charcoal or ashes in the alvei of different hypocausts have come to the erroneous conclusion that the whole of the interior was intended to contain fuel , but the evidence at our disposal goes decidedlagainst this

y sup position . For , in every bath hitherto discovered , the fornax itself ancl the pillars next it have suffered much from the flames , but neither fuel nor its effects are found in the body of the alveus . Of course it would be impossible to prevent small pieces of charcoal and ashes from being sucked in by the draught ; but this fact proves the nature of the alveus even more plainly , as it is only such debris that is ever found in it . In the diagram before you , two

shafts aro represented going down a depth of 13 feet before they , reach the hypocaust , and through one of them a little boy was le ' fc into the alveus , who , after groping about among the pillars , presently returned as black as a chimney-sweep . Mr . Sympson further describes the room , thus , " The walls of this room were plastered , and the plaster painted red , blue , ancl other colours , and its floor tesselated white . This pavement is about 13 feet below the present surface of the ground , being on a level with the testudo of the hypocaust , so deep was old Liiidum buried in its ruins . The workmen in digging up this pavement struck into the flue , 3 feet from the north-east corner of the hypocaust , and opened it into

the corner , and so the whole was discovered . " The same gentleman in allusion to another hypocaust ( of wliich I have here a lithograph ) , says "thc hypocaust above mentioned must have been a much hotter room than this , for instead of the flues being carried under another room , the walls of the sweating-room itself were hollow or double , and a great number of flues carried up between them all round the room . A curious model of this is still to be seen in the Museum of the Eoyal Societ" The same author

meny . tions that pieces of wood-coal ( i . e charcoal ) were found in the fornax . At Uriconium the guide showed me a piece of charcoal which was found in ono of the furnaces there , and which differed but little from the charcoal commonly sold in France as fuel . Some ordinary stone coal was also found in the western preftiriiium . AAlien at Uriconium , I also endeavoured to ascertain the dimensions of the furnaces there , but found it extremely difficult to decide the

points from which to measure , as there was so much loss of substance in the most important parts . As near as I could guess , the largest furnace was 11 inches wide and 3 feet 2 inches high , ancl the next in size , 2 feet C inches high by the same width . Tne onl y flue remaining was in the eastern hypocaust , ancl measured 1 foot iu width by 2 feet in height . You will observe in the foregoing description that a considerable thickness of concrete is spoken of

as forming the chief part of the roof of the hypocaust , or floor of the sudatorium . Tho object of this was to ensure equality of temperature , as when thoroughly heated it took a long time to cool , and therefore the temperature of the bath was little affected by ' any temporary neglect . The modern Turks adopt a somewhat similar

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