A Roman town house which was constructed last year during the Channel Four TV programme, Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day, has seen its visitor numbers triple, bosses revealed today.
The site of Wroxeter’s Roman Town House will also undergo ‘unusual’ maintenance work by English Heritage in the New Year to keep the attraction in good repair.
A group of builders were challenged to construct the house, following a Roman guide and using traditional materials and techniques.
Since opening in February, the Wroxeter Roman City has seen a sharp rise in visitor numbers.
Mark Badger, of English Heritage, said: “We don’t expect this property to last for 1,000 years.
“Indeed, as it is an experimental building, planning permission was only initially sought for five years, but it adds so much to the Roman experience, putting the whole of Wroxeter Roman City into a far more tangible context for our visitors,” he added.
“With additional signage and furniture planned to be added to the displays for Easter 2012, we are confident that people will continue to flock to this contemporary presentation of a luxury home from Wroxeter’s Roman heyday.”
But the weather last winter damaged part of the fabric of the building.
Mr Badger said: “Romans did not have the luxury of a damp-proof course, so where the upper walls are protected from the elements by the layer of paint, the lower walls effectively suck water up from the ground, which makes the plaster much heavier, and prone to breaking loose.”
For details visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/wroxeter or call 0870 333 1183.
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