Tucked beneath a nondescript office block on Lower Thames Street in the heart of London lies an astonishing slice of history. Under this modern building, there’s a scheduled ancient monument that takes you back to what the city would have been like in Roman times.
Descend the stairs into the basement, and you’ll stumble upon the remnants of a Roman house complete with its own bath house, dating back to approximately 190 AD. Known as the Billingsgate Roman House and Baths, it was first unearthed in 1848 and stands proudly as the only domestic Roman site in the city open for public exploration, steeped in rich historical significance.
London tour guide David Harry couldn’t wait to share his find on TikTok, exclaiming: “London is full of shocking surprises. This 1960s/70s office block has an enormous secret in it.” As he ventured down and peered into the past, David revealed: “This is a Roman house dating from about the year 190 and not only is it a Roman house, it has a dark secret in it as well because along here isn’t just a house, it’s got a bath house attached to it.”
David showed the ruins of the Roman ‘hot room’
Providing a virtual tour to his followers, David traversed each chamber of the archaeological wonder. He began with the Roman ‘hot room’, telling his audience it “would have been so hot that your skin would have been fried off your feet.” Moving on, he presented the ‘cold room’, detailing its use for disrobing and relaxing post-bathe. One standout feature of the ancient Roman dwelling is its tepidarium—a warm room—which David suggested was likely utilised for business dealings, noting it “would have been comfortable but very hot.”
The Billingsgate Roman House and Baths has withstood the sands of time, enduring nearly 2,000 years, reports the Mirror. Its significance earned it status as a scheduled monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, which means visitors could be prosecuted for causing any damage.
In his video post, David said: “Discovered in 1848, and preserved at a time when normally ruins were just destroyed, this amazing private house dating back to Roman times contains its own spectacular bathhouse. It’s a mystery why the bath house is here, as it would’ve stood in the way of the view of the River Thames, which was just next to the building.”
He continued: “The bathhouse was discovered by the Victorians, and then when the rest of the coal exchange was pulled down in the 1960s, the rest of the secret was uncovered. It’s the only private Roman house in London that can be visited, and is an unparalleled archaeological treasure.”
David’s TikTok clip has gone viral, amassing an outstanding 793,000 views and 34,000 likes, alongside a flurry of comments from awestruck viewers. One TikTok user expressed their astonishment with: “That’s incredible. Imagine what else is laying beneath us.” Another was equally enthused, posting: “That is so cool oh my God! What an amazing find,” while yet another shared: “How amazing. I would love to discover something from the Roman times.”
Intrigued followers quizzed David in the comments about the ‘dark secret’. He replied: “It’s more of a mysterious surprise, Roman private houses hardly ever have a bathhouse attached. There’s a theory that it was originally a temple and then a brothel.”
The Billingsgate Roman House and Baths welcomes visitors on Saturdays from April to November. Entry fees are £12 for adults and £10 for children aged 14 and under.
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