HOW HEALTHY WAS ROMAN CANTERBURY?
Although they did not understand the causes of disease they had observed that there ways of preventing ill health. Their ‘big idea’ was public health, which involved preventing disease by providing a supply of clean running water, a sewage system and encouraging cleanliness. In this reconstruction of part of Canterbury, the artist John Bowmen has illustrated many of the public health features that the Romans built.
2. Temple precinct, here were the large fountains that supplied water for drinking.
3. The Basilica in the great town square.
4. Theatre.
6. Fresh water was brought into the town from springs.
There were public fountains for the poor and in the town houses of the rich
there was often a private water supply.
7. Cold baths.
8. Public baths were used by the majority of people who could not afford baths in their own homes.
9. Drains to take away the dirty water.
10. Furnace to heat the hot water.
The baths shown in the bottom right hand corner of the picture were an important feature of the social life in Roman Canterbury. People would have met at the baths to swim, wash and socialise. The baths were built in Canterbury at the beginning of the second century.