Chester in Cheshire West and Chester, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)

All-round Luxury

— Roman Gardens —

Photographed by Ray Gurganus, April 9, 2024

1. All-round Luxury Marker

Inscription. The main bathing halls comprised three rooms: the cold room (frigidarium), warm room (tepidarium) and hot room (caldarium). The frigidarium and caldarium had plunge baths supplied with cold and hot water. The tepidarium, caldarium and sudatoria (saunas) were heated by hypocausts.

Hypocausts seem to have originated in Greece in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC. They became much more common under the Roman Empire, to heat bath buildings and houses as well.

The main elements were a wood burning furnace placed against an outer wall below ground level; a thick tile and concrete floor supported on brick or stone pillars and hollow flue tiles let into the walls leading to vents at the eaves, Natural draught drew the hot gases from the furnace under the floor and up the flues, heating both floor and walls. Although there is no agreement on precise figures, the amount of wood consumed would have been very large.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Anthropology & Archaeology.

Location. 53° 11.309′ N, 2° 53.254′ W. Marker is in Chester, England, in Cheshire

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West and Chester. It can be reached from Park Street. The marker is mounted to the reconstructed hypocaust in the Roman Gardens, about 40 meters south of the entrance on Pepper Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Chester, England CH1, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North West England.

Globally, it is on the Atlantic Ocean,

in the North Atlantic Region,

in Europe,

in Atlantic Europe,

on one of the British Isles,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Bathing in Style (here, next to this marker); The Roman Way of Death (a few steps from this marker); Welcome to the Roman Gardens (a few steps from this marker); Celebrating Nature's Glory in Art (within shouting distance of this marker); Roman Gardens (within shouting distance of this marker); A Tale of Three Gateways (within shouting distance of this marker); Georgian Elegance (within shouting distance of this marker); The Roman Amphitheatre (within shouting

Roman Gardens Ruins image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ray Gurganus, April 9, 2024

2. Roman Gardens Ruins

distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chester.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 12, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 11, 2024, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 164 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 11, 2024, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.