howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
this normally opens in april, so the change will mean that it is closed over easter weekend and both may bank holidays.
hardly encouraging to tourists.
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
Sic transit gloria mundi?
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Perhaps a lack of volunteers ??
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
It is terribly sad, a resource under exploited and a very tired and old fashioned exhibition. It desperately needs some resources to be invested with a big upgrade to modern interpretive standards.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
not heard many positive things said about the people that run it.
as for volunteers i have not heard an appeal for any and no mention on their website.
the site won a few awards many years ago too.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
I don't like to say it, but there is only really one person holding it all back......
Shame it was never linked to the White Elephant Experience and bathhouse etc all incorporated.....
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
It is available for group bookings, it appears, from March to December. I have seen bits of it/about it on TV archaeology progs.
Hopefully schools etc. can still get a look in for ten months of the year.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 706- Registered: 25 Oct 2010
- Posts: 285
I wish the English Heritage would look into taking it over. It's such a jewel in our town's crown.
I wrote this about it for one of my websites.
The Roman Painted House
My hometown of Dover, just 21 miles from the French coast, looks, to the casual observer, much like any other small town here in England. But, the usual array of busy shops in the main street conceals a marvelous discovery that has lain buried by time since AD 270.
In 1970 a routine archaeological rescue assignment began ahead of re-development and there, behind the Bingo hall and the beauty parlor, laid a wonderful discovery that is to me, a source of intrigue and fascination.
Hidden many feet below the rubble of demolition was something that has been named as Britain's Buried Pompeii.
Knocked down and buried by the Roman army during the construction of a larger fort at that particular place, three of its main rooms were found to be substantially intact under the fort's ramparts. Standing outside of the great naval fort of the Classis Britannica the building was erected around AD 200.
It formed part of a large mansion or official hotel for travelers crossing the channel to France or to refresh themselves on their journey home.
The unique survival of over 400 sq.ft. of painted plaster is the most extensive ever found north of the Alps.
The floors and the remaining parts of the walls of the six rooms were found and the colors of the wall decorations, in their soft shades of reds and greens, are truly a joy to gaze upon.
Parts of twenty-eight painted panels, complete with trompe-loiel effect fluted columns can be seen so clearly, each with a motif relating to Bacchus, the Roman God of wine.
My personal favorite is a be-ribboned wand (Thyrsus), elegant and feminine and a small hint to the good times that must certainly have been enjoyed there.
In four of the rooms, where the walls have survived to a height of between four and six feet, the hard red concrete floors cover a complete central-heating system, with large arched flues, the various heating channels and the upright wall flues that would have kept the building comfortably warm 1800 years ago.
To look at the meticulously laid bricks and to ponder on the last time that they moved, whilst being put into place by the craftsman is a very special thing.
Of course other treasures were found as the site was excavated and coins, stamped tiles, cooking pots and pottery remains, give us an idea of the lives of the people who enjoyed the hospitality of this Roman Official Hotel.
In sumptuous surroundings and fortified by good wine and fine food they would have whiled away the hours between journeys and business.
One of the most evocative sights is that of the drinking vessels and I wonder whose lips last rested on the rim, as the wine was drunk and the women kissed. What were his thoughts, his hopes, and his dreams for himself and his country?
And sometimes, on a cold, wet day when visitors are scarce, I can stand there, in the middle of a room, close my eyes and feel from those delicately painted walls, some of the energy that has remained there, trapped in time like a tape recording and ready to reveal itself to anyone who can open themselves to it.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Not sure EH are the best people to take it on - look at how much they care about the Western Heights, swathes of heritage that they are 'guardians' and they stand back and watch it decays.....
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 706- Registered: 25 Oct 2010
- Posts: 285
I was just thinking how well cared for and promoted the one that they run at Lullingstone is,Paul.
I didn't they ran the Western Heights
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
I think Dover Castle is all they want to spend money on in Dover
EH are guardians for the Drop Redoubt, Detached Bastion, North Entrance and various other bits and pieces included the Knights Templar chapel
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 697- Registered: 13 Apr 2010
- Posts: 622
Pretty much sums up the current tourism strategy - CLOSED! What with this and Dover Castle, it makes you wonder if, in this Olympic year, East Kent is really interested in the tourism trade at all. With the lack of industry and commerce in East Kent, one would have thought that promoting tourism would be good for the local economy and jobs. Once again the fact that millions of people pass through Dover every year is clearly lost on people here.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
paul
post 11, more like collecting from than investing in.
they would close the painted house if given control of it.
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
That display board is confusing. Is it open or closed in September? It could be read both ways. If I am correct in assuming it is open for four months it should read:
OPENING DAYS
June - Sept (Open)
Oct - May (Closed)
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,692
One arrogant stubborn old man is what stands between what it currently is and what it could be
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I do believe you are right Paul in your post number 6. Ross too in number 15.
Maybe the volunteers are no longer volunteering for a particular reason ?
The mention of more modern ways to display what they have there was made above - perhaps holograms (or the modern equivalent).
Another point is of course, that when you go in, you can see all that there is there before you pay, so you could take a peek and then leave and not have paid a penny.
A door, or some kind of barrier could be put in place, better lighting too. They can make caves look exciting with effective lighting, they must be able to make the Roman Painted House look good too - I would have thought.
Maybe there needs a change in the Trustees - some of them have been there years and might be led to easily by the person not mentioned in post 6 and 15.
There are other Roman ruins around there - some underground, perhaps it's time to expose them to make it more interesting.
Roger
Guest 688- Registered: 16 Jul 2009
- Posts: 268
I volunteered last year and I never heard anything back.This site is undoubtedly as ,Penny Little said, the jewel in Dovers extensive historical crown.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
It should be the jewel John, I agree, but with such limited opening hours, it can only be discovered on rare occasions - even it's own web-site is out of date and very limited in its content/.
I have spent sometime looking for the names of the trustees and could only find two and that may well be out of date, so I'll try DDC.
Roger
My Son volanteered there about 3 years ago and had a really good experience. So far this year he has attempted to volanteer in any capacity (he is studying classical civalizations but is not picky he would do anything.) At the Dover Museum they haven't accnowleged his offer The BHF he turned up twice at the times they said to be told the trainer wasn't there , and several other charities in Dover None of them have even acknowleged his offer dispite still having signs up saying they need people. So he is now working for Oxfam in Canterbury. Sometimes Dover gets what it deserves
The only place which has shown any positivity to his applicarion is
The Riverside Centre who are processing his application and where really nice
How sad. Riverside have shown themselves to be charming and helpful many times, so I am not surprised they have been courteous and pleasant, they are delightful. But shame on those others! Not only letting Dover down (that seems to be a local hobby) but also their own organisations. I realise many will be made up of volunteers, but if you are going to volunteer, at least do a good job!
