The Romans - Archaeological work has revealed remains of a Roman Bath House which had been burnt down by the followers of Queen Boudicca in the revolt of AD 60 where the Six Bells now stands. It was necessarily built of flint and brick, and is the earliest known masonry building at Verulamium.

With the establishment of Roman Verulamium around AD 50, a public bath house was constructed alongside the street leading from the "Colchester Gate" to the town centre.

Unfortunately only a very small portion, part of the frigidarium or cold room, of what must have been a large building is known. It's quality was shown by fragments of finely painted plaster one of which displayed a tortoiseshell lyre, a bow and a quiver of arrows, the attributes of the god Apollo.

In the revolt of AD 60 the building was seriously damaged by fire but was subsequently reused, although in a poor condition, while a new public baths was constructed elsewhere in Verulamium.