Surbiton High Girls’ Prep had an exciting School trip to Fishbourne Roman Palace, just outside Chichester. Year 3 had the chance to step back in time and explore one of the most impressive Roman sites in Britain. We were all amazed by the grand size of the palace and the beautiful mosaics that decorated its floors. It was an incredible opportunity to see how the Romans lived and how advanced their culture was compared to the local people at the time.
The day began with a fascinating tour of the palace, where we learned about the incredible mosaics that covered the floors. These mosaics were made of tiny, colourful tiles and told stories of Roman myths, animals, and everyday life. Some mosaics were so detailed that we could see tiny patterns and even animals like birds and fish! Our guide explained that creating such detailed mosaics would have taken a long time and required great skill, much like a giant jigsaw puzzle. We all wondered who could have lived in such a grand palace. Could it have been a rich Roman official or a local ruler? Maybe the palace was even built as a reward, to show how powerful and advanced the Romans were compared to the people who lived here before they arrived.
As we walked through the ruins, we also discovered more about how the Romans lived. We learned about their homes, their gardens, and even the bathhouse, where they would go to relax and socialise. The palace had heated floors thanks to an ingenious system called a hypocaust. This system warmed the rooms from beneath, making the palace feel warm and cosy even in the cooler months.
One of the highlights of our visit was seeing the artefacts that had been uncovered from the site. We saw tools, pottery, and even pieces of Roman clothing! It was amazing to think about how these everyday items were once used by people just like us. We also got to try some hands-on activities, such as learning how the Romans made thread for clothing using simple tools, and seeing how they wrote using a stylus on wax tablets.
After our tour, we had the chance to ask questions and discuss everything we had seen. It was clear that the Romans were incredibly clever at building, making art, and even creating clothing and tools that we still use today in some form. The trip really helped bring the Romans to life for us, showing how they lived, worked, and even had fun in their grand homes.
It was an amazing day, and we all left Fishbourne Palace with our heads full of new knowledge and ideas about what life was like during the Roman period. We can’t wait to learn more about the Romans in class!