Family life was important and in most families, the father headed the household and made all the decisions. The wife ran the house and cared for the children. Richer children may have gone to school or had a tutor to teach them at home. In poorer households, the children would probably have had little time for school or play. They would have been expected to help in the family business.
Cooking was done using open hearths - hollows in the ground or tile-built structures - with fires that allowed both food to be cooked, like a barbeque today, and also heated the room. Water had to be collected from nearby wells as only the wealthiest houses may have had piped water. Roman Londoners did not have the sorts of toilets that we know today. They used either a bucket or a storage jar set on the floor of the living room. The contents were thrown out into the backyard along with the rest of the household rubbish.
They used mixing bowls and storage jars for preparing food and jars and ceramic or metal pans for cooking. They used knives, spoons for eating and ladles and scoops for cooking. Cheap vessels were for everyday use while the rich had expensive dinner services for entertaining their guests – this was red glossy samian, made in France. Londoners enjoyed a variety of food, grown or caught locally, and other foods were imported - luxuries such as wine, olive oil and fish sauce.
