Fishbourne, England: A sumptuous Roman palace from the 1st century AD
Fishbourne Roman Palace This evening, I am posting summary information on Fishbourne Roman Palace which s the largest domestic Roman building yet found in Britain. Located near Chichester, West Sussex, about 80 miles S.W. of London. May have been built for Tiberius Claudius Togidumnus, a native local British king of the first century AD who supported the Roman invasion and became a client king and adopted Roman ways. The local tribe ruled by Togidumnus were called the Regni. Palace was built between AD 75 and AD 80. A large and impressive structure comprising four wings surrounding a large formal garden supplemented with more gardens to the south leading down to the harbour. The building (not to mention occupant) was of such importance that the road from the local capital of Noviomagus (Chichester) ran directly to the large entrance hall that stood at centre of the east wing. Decline set in around AD 270 when part of the Palace was destroyed by fire ...