“[T]he Greenwich Park discovery is important, adding as it does another link to the chain of evidence respecting the Roman occupation of this part of the County, and surpassing in interest any previously recorded from the immediate neighbourhood.” – A.D. Webster, writing on the significance of finding Roman remains in Greenwich Park (“The Roman Temple”).

In 55 B.C., Roman arrived in Britain for the first time and attempted and failed to conquer the people living there. However, in 43 A.D., the Romans were successful. While the exact time frame is unknown, historians assume that Roman occupation of Greenwich Park happened shortly after the Roman’s first visit to Britain (“Greenwich”).

Greenwich Park is and was popular for its vast amount of beautiful green spaces so close yet so far from the city (“Welcome”). In fact, the land was so coveted that “ever since the land was inherited in 1427 by Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester—brother of Henry V—generations of British monarchs have taken this magnificent park into their hearts,” in which it was enclosed and treated as private estate for monarchy for a time (“History”). Many notable British figures were born at Greenwich, including King Henry VIII in 1491, who introduced deer to the park, and his daughters Mary I in 1516 and Elizabeth I in 1533. King Henry’s son, Edward VI, also died in Greenwich in 1553 (“History”).

The Romans also enjoyed the area and scenery that Greenwich Park offered, settling enough to build a temple there. Throughout the 1900s, archaeological digs and excavations began as a part of routine work for the park. First evidence of the temple was the result of Superintendent of Greenwich Park between 1897 and 1920, Angus Duncan Webster (“The Roman Temple”). He had intended to located a Roman road, but instead discovered “the remains of a stone statue arm, mosaic floor, coins, wall plaster, roofing and tiles” as well as fragments of Roman inscriptions (“The Roman Temple”). Webster wrote that “a search was made in the mound by probing the soil with an iron bar. As a result several tesserae [mosaic tiles] and cement were discovered, which at once confirmed the existence of Roman remains” (“The Roman Temple”). Initially, it had been concluded that it was a Roman villa.

50 years later, archaeologists returned to the site and ultimately determined that the building was religious in function, due to features commonly associated with Romano-Celtic temples like the raising of the central building to stand on a low platform, the square/rectangular floor plan, and an eastern entrance (“The Roman Temple”).

In 1999, a more high-profile dig led by Channel 4’s “Time Team” found:

• 101 coins from the 3rd and 4th centuries
• A marble tablet inscribed with three lines of text
• Stamped tile
• Painted plaster
• Animal bone
• Pottery
• Evidence of buildings east of the mound (“Greenwich”)

“The 1999 digs supported the theory that this was the site of a Roman temple through further excavations of the temple structure and a surrounding ditch which fits the description of an enclosed temple precinct (or temenos)” (“The Roman Temple”).

The presence of the temple, aside from linking locals to history as A.D. Webster stated in the quote above, brings yet another draw to the park, contributing to its beauty, history, and provides historical context to those looking for more information about Roman activity in Britain.

Works Cited:

“Greenwich,” Blackheath & Greenwich History Blog, https://www.blackheathandgreenwich.com/greenwich-and-the-romans

“History of Greenwich Park,” The Royal Parks, https://www.royalparks.org.uk/visit/parks/greenwich-park/history

“The Roman Temple,” The Royal Parks, 3 Dec. 2024, https://www.royalparks.org.uk/read-watch-listen/roman-temple

Wallower, Becky. “Screen Shot 2019-12-18 at 19.28.29,” Layers of London, https://www.layersoflondon.org/map/records/roman-temple-complex-in-green...

“Welcome to Greenwich Park,” The Royal Parks, https://www.royalparks.org.uk/visit/parks/greenwich-park