Purley Lit’s chairman, on a break from his guide work at Ightham Mote, takes us on a photographic tour of these famous ruins while describing life and living conditions in Roman society, Roman citizenship, the legal system, rule under emperors, the truth about gladiators and what it felt like to be a Roman soldier. ("Over the heather the wet wind blows/ I’ve lice in my tunic and a cold in my nose.")

ILLUSTRATED TALK