Introduction

Fishbourne Roman Palace - Past, Present and Future.

I began to feel the seductive power of Fishbourne Roman Palace in the summer of 1998 when attending the site as a trainee excavator.  Two more memorable summers working on site evaporated at high speed, finishing at the end of August 2002.  Since then I have worked as a volunteer member of the Sussex Archaeological Society, talking to visitors about the site and holding handling sessions with them in the Collections Discovery Centre, using artefacts from the distant past.  The Palace, in AD80, was a building full of colourful elegance and structural beauty.  Today you can add to that an atmosphere of intrigue and mystery.

Fifty years ago, in April 1960, the Roman Palace resurrected itself into the present.  Instrumental in this was a digger driver carving a trench in which to lay a water-main.  It was a day he would remember for the rest of his life.  The mouth of his digger had chewed up and spat out a mixture of Roman masonry and mosaic tiles.  Bewildered and excited he reported his find to the Site Manager.

Also, perhaps, that day the spirit of Togidubnus was released.  His sandaled feet once more to walk the mosaic floors and his eyes to feast upon the deep colours and patterns of the wall plaster that he knew so well.  Then to drift out into the formal garden, his nostrils immediately filling with the sweet scent from the foliage.  As evening falls, he watches the patterns being created by the flickering flames of the oil lamps.  He observes the moon silently caressing the marble, stone and bronze statues as it makes its nightly pilgrimage across the sky.  Then a sentimental visit to the south wing, a stroll in the southern garden with its ornamental ponds and trees.  The joy of the calm sea as it laps against the shore and an inward smile of recognition as his eyes gaze upon some of the ships by the wharf.

Sadly, being mortal, we return to the 1960s. The Chichester Civic Society thought the site should be investigated and the landowner agreed that, at Easter 1961, trial trenches would be permitted only on the strict understanding that the turf was properly cut and stacked, the top soil removed and kept separate and the site was to be back-filled by hand at the end of the excavation. The landowner was impressed at how tidy the site was left and agreed to a summer of excavations. The excavations lasted until 1969, costing £12,140, which included the two volumes of reports.  The excavations were led by Sir Barry Cunliffe, presently to be down from  Cambridge University with a 1^st Class Honours degree in archaeology and anthropology.  The ‘Gods’ of the palace had chosen well as Barry Cunliffe went on to have an illustrious career as an archaeologist, Oxford don and author.  He is still excavating at the time of writing at the Roman villa at Brading, Isle of Wight.

His troops came from across the globe – England, America, France and even Nigeria.  Other staff with skills of cleaning, treating, recording, illustrating and photography were drawn from closer shores.  It was not all work, romance blossomed over the time and nine couples, involved in the excavations, fell in love and were married.

But underlying all of this was the fear that the site would be sold for a housing development.  Then one, morning, out of the lingering mist, the Emperor appeared and, in the form of Ivan Margary, gallantly strode forth into the fray with his financial generosity, so the first battle to secure the site was won.  With Ivan Margary’s continued support and with extra finance from The Sunday Times, for the laying out and planning of the museum, the Palace opened to the public on 28 May 1968.  

For the present, the Palace is well served by its hard working, dedicated and knowledgeable staff and volunteers and the Education Department stands tall with a Sanford Award for their work with school parties, colleges and other groups. Often, children who have visited with their school, have returned enthusiastically soon afterwards with parents in tow.  The Collections  Discovery Centre, opened in March 2007 by Tony Robinson, boasts amongst its rooms, a conservation laboratory and a research room within which staff, volunteers and students work examining and cataloguing on to a computer the finds of the 1960s and other excavations.  Some of their work will be used for future reference and research projects.

The future is difficult to predict, but possibly it lies with those in responsibility at the present and their task is huge.  At the moment, since 2002, the last season of excavations, the Palace sleeps.  It should not be allowed to drown in its sleep and take the secrets of the past with it.  With sea levels rising, the water-logged deposits in the southern garden are under continued threat.  These deposits could hold many secrets which perhaps could aid the understanding of why the Palace was built and what its true function was.  Any written evidence seems out of reach, possibly lurking in the lost works of the classical historian, Tacitus.  Therefore, there does not seem to be an option but to excavate further with the aid of all the modern technology available.  But wait,  listen, the heart of the Palace now seems to beat louder and with renewed strength, stimulated by the present Director, Christine Medlock.  Her vision for the future, passionately pursued by her efforts at fund raising in this difficult climate of Government financial cut backs and economic restraint.  Her resolve is strong to preserve the mosaics and up-date the visitor facilities and modernise the layout of the museum.  She is well supported by the vibrant ‘Friends of Fishbourne’ who welcome new members with open arms and who have already raised substantial amounts of money. 

For the time being, blessed with a sunny day, armed with a guide book and a vivid imagination, a rewarding day out awaits its visitors.

I hope that you enjoy reading my blog. Please leave a comment. 

Derrick A Napier.  April/May 2010

derrickanapier48@hotmail.co.uk