| Summary : Late 2nd century temple of Mithras was found during excavations at 248 Walbrook, Bucklersbury House in 1954. The temple had a rounded apse at the west end, a central nave, and two side aisles separated from the nave by sleeper walls, bearing settings for the bases of seven columns on each side. At the western end within the apse was a raised sanctuary, and at the eastern end was a narthex slightly wider than the main part of the temple, with which it communicated by a double doorway opening on to three steps down into the nave. The narthex was not be excavated. In the southwest corner of the southern aisle was a wooden tank, which was covered in a later phase of the occupation of the building. A succession of seven floors of earth and gravel had been laid because of flooding from the Wallbrook. The last but one of these, dated by coin evidence to the reign of Constantine, overlay carefully buried marble sculptures of Mithras and other deities. |
More information : (TQ 32598099)
248 Walbrook, Bucklersbury House, Temple of Mithras, 1954
During excavations by Professor W. F. Grimes on behalf of the
Roman and Mediaeval London Excavation Council, a hasilican
temple was found. It had a rounded apse at the W. end, a central
nave, and two side aisles separated from the nave by sleeper
walls, bearing settings for the bases of seven columns on each
side. At the western end within the apse was a raised sanctuary,
and at the eastern end was a narthex slightly wider than the
main part of the temple, with which it communicated by a double
doorway opening on to three steps down into the nave. These
had wooden risers. The narthex could not be excavated owing to
its proximity to the street of Wallbrook. In the S.W. corner of
the southern aisle was a wooden tank, which was covered in a
later phase of the occupation of the building. A succession of
seven floors of earth and gravel had been laid because of
flooding from the Wallbrook. The last but one of these, dated by
coin evidence to the reign of Constantine, overlay carefully
buried marble sculptures of Mithras and other deities. The
building of the temple has been attributed to the latter part
of the second century. (1-2)
The temple has been reconstructed for viewing ex-situ at Temple Court, 11 Queen Victoria Street. (TQ 325 810). (3)
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