Draught of an antient Roman Sweating-Stove.
Mr Urban,
I Send you inclosed the draught of an Hypocaustum, or Bath, discover'd at Netherby, 10 miles north from Carlisle. You may compare it with another at Cast-steeds communicated to you (see Vol. xi. p. 650, Vol. xii. p. 30, 31, and Vol. xvii. p. 60.)
The rooms mark'd c were the sudatories, or sweating places, where the people retired after bathing. a a were for exercise, &c. That mark'd f, a bath for ablution; a necessary part of the Heathen theology in the worship of Fortune, to whom the altar is consecrated, which is also in another of your Magazines (see Vol. X. p. 171.) The communicating funnels (b) supply'd the fire with fresh pabulum of air, and at the same time the pipes (d) heated the sudatories G. Smith.
A more particular Explanation.
a a a a Thirty-six pillars of square tyle, one laid above another, and a little cement between; they were about two inches thick, and each pillar was about a yard high.
b b Two funnels, or air-pipes.
c c Fifty-four pillars of solid stone 36 of which were cover'd with flags, and cemented above.
d d d Three hollow tyles, or pipes thro' the wall.
e The sacrifice room, where the altar was found, with the inscription.
f The bath, discover'd in the year 1732.
N. B. Most of the rooms were floor'd with a small thick flag, laid in cement with three course of pavement below.
[Page from The Gentleman's Mag., vol. xx., 1750, p. 27.]
