World famous Roman mosaics get tidied up ahead of Fishbourne Roman Palace's reopening

THE world-renowned mosaics at Fishbourne Roman Palace are getting a spruce-up ahead of the heritage site reopening this Saturday.
Chris Broom
By Chris Broom
Published 10th Feb 2023, 19:01 BST
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The site, near Chichester, is home to the largest collection of in-situ Roman mosaics in the country.

With the attraction due to reopen to the public on February 11 after its regular winter break, a team of conservators has been delicately cleaning the 2,000-year-old decorative floors.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Each of the 29 mosaics takes up to 10 hours to clean as a small fine brush is used to sweep the dust away, charity Sussex Past, which owns the site, said.

A member of the curatorial team cleans the Cupid riding on a dolphin mosaic, which was first laid in AD150, at Fishbourne Roman Palace in Chichester, West Sussex, ahead of the site reopening on February 11. Picture date: Thursday February 9, 2023.A member of the curatorial team cleans the Cupid riding on a dolphin mosaic, which was first laid in AD150, at Fishbourne Roman Palace in Chichester, West Sussex, ahead of the site reopening on February 11. Picture date: Thursday February 9, 2023.
A member of the curatorial team cleans the Cupid riding on a dolphin mosaic, which was first laid in AD150, at Fishbourne Roman Palace in Chichester, West Sussex, ahead of the site reopening on February 11. Picture date: Thursday February 9, 2023.

Fishbourne Roman Palace curator Dr Rob Symmons said: ‘We’re proud to be the guardians of probably the finest collection of in-situ mosaics in the country. It’s what we’re famous for and it’s what many of our visitors come to see, so keeping them clean is vital.’

Work ahead of reopening is focused on the Cupid riding on a dolphin mosaic, which was first laid in AD150.

Related topics:Chichester