Welwyn Roman Baths

The Welwyn Roman Baths are a Roman ruin preserved under the A1(M) just north of modern-day Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England [1]. The baths were a small part of the Dicket Mead villa, which was originally built in the 3rd century AD [1]. The full extent of the Dicket Mead villa was never fully excavated prior to the construction of the motorway, but the baths were only one of at least four buildings in total [1]. The ruins were uncovered in 1960 by local archaeologist Tony Rook, and the baths were gradually uncovered over the following 10 years by excavation [1]. Shortly after the excavation was completed, the Ministry of Transport announced the route of a new motorway, straight over the top of the excavation [1]. Eventually arrangements were made whereby a steel vault would be built over the top of the baths with an access tunnel for the public [1]. Visible parts remaining include the hypocaust, the tepidarium, caldarium and the frigidarium floor and cold bath, constructed from opus signinum [1].