Romans in Britain - Crofton Roman Villa, Orpington

'Pop-in' Activity Days

Roman Fashions at the Villa - Wednesday 9th and 16th April
Find out about the latest Roman fashions and dress up as a Roman. Make a 'Roman' brooch to take home.

Sessions start at 10.30am and 2.30pm each day for 5-11 year olds.
Normal entry charges.
No booking needed.
Children to be accompanied.

National Archaeology Day Meet the Romans - Sunday 20th July
Meet Secundus, a Roman Soldier and Agrippina, a rich Roman lady.

Displays on
The Life of a Roman soldier at 10.30am and 2.30pm with replica armour and weapons.
Home life at the Villa at 11.30am and 3.30pm. F fashions, jewellery and make-up, food and eating and games

All the family can join in the fun!
10.00am - 5.00pm.
Entry £2/£1 YAC members free.
No booking needed.
Children to be accompanied.

Fun with Pots - Fridays in August (1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th)
Find out about Roman pots and have some real fun making your own 'Roman' mini pot to take home.

10.30am - 1.00pm and 2.00pm - 4.00pm
For 5-1 1 year olds
Normal entry charges
No booking needed - just pop-in!
Child must be accompanied

Life in the Roman Villa - Wednesdays in August (6th, 13th, 20th, 27th)
Find out about the 1,800-year old Roman villa-house and farm and handle Roman artefacts. Join in the Roman villa quiz and win a Villa badge.

Sessions start at 10.30am and 2.30pm each day.
For 5-11 year olds.
Normal entry charges.
No booking needed.
Children must be accompanied.

Life In Roman Britain Re-enactment Week - Monday 6th to Friday 10th October

the life of a Roman soldier: demonstrations by a Roman soldier - his armour and weapons, fighting in the Roman army and his daily life. With replica armour and weapons.
the Roman villa-house: an archaeologist describes the discovery of the site, the excavations and the villa-house remains.
life in the Roman villa: Livia, a Roman lady describes her life, with Roman and replica domestic objects.
handling, drawing and labelling Roman artefacts

Charge: £ 3.00 per child (teachers and helpers free)
Duration: 2 hours.
With Roman soldier, Roman lady and two Kent Unit staff

Events For Children
Activity days and a re-enactment event are held for children in the holidays.
Please send for details.

About Crofton Roman villa
In 1926, local workmen were constructing driveways for the new council offices when they chanced upon a discovery of ancient relics and stone works. The excavation that followed unearthed a Roman villa which dated back to AD140. The excavation was never completed and the site was left to become overgrown. It was not until 1988 that the Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit took up the site and excavated as much as they could. Working alongside Bromley Council, they managed to make the site into what it is today. From records and investigations, it is apparent that the villa was in use and extensively altered until about AD400 and that it was the centre of a farming estate of about 500 acres.The house was altered several times during 260 years of occupation and at its largest probably had at least 20 rooms. The Crofton Roman Villa house was occupied from about AD140 to 400 and was the centre of a farming estate of about 500 acres. Nearby would have been farm buildings, surrounded by fields, surrounded by meadows and woods. The remains of ten rooms can be seen today, now inside a modern cover building. Two rooms contain the remains of their opus signinum (concrete) floors, and three have evidence of tessellated (tiled) floors. Details of the under-floor central heating (hypocaust) can be seen, which features both channelled and pillared systems.
Activities at the villa
Much work has been done to provide more than just a place to visit. Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit have organised many activities for the visitor to take part in. These include. Guided talks by archaeologists. A taped commentary about the villa. Graphic displays of the 1988 excavations and Villa house. A 'Hands on' area where actual finds can be examined. Roman soldiers 'rubbings'. Small figures of various ranks of Roman soldier (10p charge per rubbing) Two larger brasses of a Roman auxiliary and gladiator (50p) Mosaic making. Trays with coloured 'tesserae' and patterns for mosaic making. Booklets for children, including activity pictures to colour, word searches etc. Roman games to plays. Dressing up as Romans. Dig for Roman finds in the excavation box. Special events for children (For details ring 020 8460 1442) There is no doubt that a lot of thought and hard work has gone into making Crofton a treat to visit.
Events 2008
'Pop-in' Activity Days Roman Fashions at the Villa - Wednesday 9th and 16th April Find out about the latest Roman fashions and dress up as a Roman. Make a 'Roman' brooch to take home. Sessions start at 10.30am and 2.30pm each day for 5-11 year olds. Normal entry charges. No booking needed. Children to be accompanied. National Archaeology Day Meet the Romans - Sunday 20th July Meet Secundus, a Roman Soldier and Agrippina, a rich Roman lady. Displays on The Life of a Roman soldier at 10.30am and 2.30pm with replica armour and weapons. Home life at the Villa at 11.30am and 3.30pm. F fashions, jewellery and make-up, food and eating and games All the family can join in the fun! 10.00am - 5.00pm. Entry £2/£1 YAC members free. No booking needed. Children to be accompanied. Fun with Pots - Fridays in August (1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th) Find out about Roman pots and have some real fun making your own 'Roman' mini pot to take home. 10.30am - 1.00pm and 2.00pm - 4.00pm For 5-1 1 year olds Normal entry charges No booking needed - just pop-in! Child must be accompanied Life in the Roman Villa - Wednesdays in August (6th, 13th, 20th, 27th) Find out about the 1,800-year old Roman villa-house and farm and handle Roman artefacts. Join in the Roman villa quiz and win a Villa badge. Sessions start at 10.30am and 2.30pm each day. For 5-11 year olds. Normal entry charges. No booking needed. Children must be accompanied. Life In Roman Britain Re-enactment Week - Monday 6th to Friday 10th October the life of a Roman soldier: demonstrations by a Roman soldier - his armour and weapons, fighting in the Roman army and his daily life. With replica armour and weapons. the Roman villa-house: an archaeologist describes the discovery of the site, the excavations and the villa-house remains. life in the Roman villa: Livia, a Roman lady describes her life, with Roman and replica domestic objects. handling, drawing and labelling Roman artefacts Charge: £ 3.00 per child (teachers and helpers free) Duration: 2 hours. With Roman soldier, Roman lady and two Kent Unit staff Events For Children Activity days and a re-enactment event are held for children in the holidays. Please send for details.
Roman Villa Activity Workshops
Available on Wednesdays and Fridays Thursdays:( Bromley Borough schools only) With Kent Archaeological Unit staff. Workshops consist of two talks, each followed by activities, when the children divide into smaller groups (up to 15 children) The Roman villa-house: an archaeologist describes the discovery and excavation of the Villa and explains the remains of the house - its walls, roof, floors and hypocaust (central heating) and its end in c. AD410. Life in the Roman villa: a second session covers life on the farm and in the house with Roman artefacts and replica Roman domestic objects, including pottery and jewellery. Four children are dressed as Romans - a little girl, a married lady, a farm boy and a senator. Handling and drawing Roman artefacts activity: Each child has a finds tray of Roman artefacts with identification and handling followed by drawing and labelling (drawings are taken back to school) Mosaic making activity: Unit staff briefly outline how the Romans made mosaics, followed by mosaic making with individual trays, coloured "tesserae" and Roman patterns to follow. "Brass rubbing" activity: rubbing of figures of Roman soldiers, Julius Caesar and gladiators (14cms high) with a brief written description about figures and instructions how to "rub" given by Unit staff (rubbings are taken back to school). Teachers and helpers are requested to help during the activity sessions. This is a very full 2-hour programme so late arrival may result in the activities having to be curtailed. Charge: £2.50 per child (teachers and helpers free) Duration: 2 hours Min. number of pupils 20 and max. 60.
Standard School Visit
Charge: 70p per child (teachers and helpers free) Duration: 45mins. Available on Wednesdays and Fridays The villa-house: a short talk on the villa-house. "Brass rubbing": Additional charge of 10p per child. Sample work-sheets: are provided for schools to copy as required. Teachers and adult helpers from the school are asked to help with supervision.
Booking a School Visit To Crofton Roman Villa
We do hope your school will visit the Crofton Roman Villa. For further information and to book a visit please contact: Kent Arch. Unit, 11 Penshurst Green, Bromley BR2 9DG Tel. 020 8460 1442 During your visit booklets, postcards and souvenirs are on sale at the Villa shop (most items are £1.50 or under) To save time during your visit, 'Roman' packs can be ordered at the time of booking. Packs cost £1 each and include two postcards, an activity booklet and logo pen and pencil and are collected on day of visit. Teachers can preview the Villa during normal opening hours. (April - Oct, (Weds, and Fridays 10am-4.30pm & Suns 2-4.30pm), free of charge. If you would like a full-day visit, your Villa visit can combine with a visit to Bromley Borough Museum, the Priory, Church Hill, Orpington, booked directly with the Museum. Contact the Curator on 01689 873826 Free Transport is available for Greater London schools using public buses or tramlink. Phone 020 7918 3954 or email schoolparty@.tfl.gov.uk

Useful information
Languages spoken
	Spoken	Print	Audio
English

Facilities				Miscellaneous
Free parking provided				Gift shop in museum
Picnic area provided
Wheelchair access
Access for those with disabilities

Opening times		2008 : Open Wednesday 2nd April
April - October Wednesdays, Fridays and Bank Holidays		10.00am - 5.00pm 2.00pm - 5.00pm
Sundays		2.00pm - 4.00pm

Admission prices (Single)
April - October	Adult	Child	O.A.P.
	1.00p	70p	70p

Admission Prices (Group)
April - October	As for singles. No charges for teachers and leaders
	Roman Villa Activity workshops for schools £2.50 per child. Standard school visits:70p per child

Crofton gallery
Artists impression of Crofton Roman villa	1988 excavations	Crofton Roman villa interior