Qualis Community Benefit Fund donated £5,000 towards a new exhibition at Epping Forest District Museum in Waltham Abbey.
The exhibition, which opened on Saturday and runs until 14 December is all about a Roman settlement between Chigwell and Abridge known as Durolitum!
The exhibition Town and Country: Life in Roman Durolitum, explores what it was like living there 2,000 years ago.
This important site is situated on the road between Londinium (London) and Great Dunmow – a crucial settlement in Roman times. We know that there was quite a significant bath house at Durolitum, and the settlement was linear in shape, running along the fertile banks of the River Roding, so we are exploring Roman hygiene, bathing, food, daily life, religion and much more!
Objects excavated from Durolitum, by West Essex Archaeological Group (WEAG) several decades ago are part of the display along with others on loan from other local Essex museums, including Verulamium in St Albans. There are 2,000-year-old sections of mosaic, pots decorated with hunting scenes, and smaller, personal objects such a jewellery and religious pieces. The exhibition also features some amazing Iron Age items found in Waltham Abbey.
Children are welcome to dress up as Roman Gods or Goddesses in the exhibition, or explore the exhibition dressed as archaeologists. We also have a mosaic activity where you can create your own beautiful design, imagining what patterns you would have had in your house if you were a Roman!
There is a wide programme of events to go along with the exhibition, details can be found at: www.ticketsource.co.uk/efdmuseum.