Mike Perry with some of his Villa model making materials Photo: Ray Duff
By Ray Duff: A new model of the ancient Roman Villa on East Cliff, a site of national and international significance, was revealed to the public at Folkestone Museum on Saturday. The model depicts the second Villa that was built around 200 AD.
The new model of the AD200 Roman Villa on East Cliff Photo: Ray Duff
The model was created by Mike Perry, a former film and TV set and art designer who is known as ‘The Folkestone Miniturist’. He used aerial photographs, drawings from 1924 and later excavations, consultations with archaeologists Dr Keith Parfitt and Dr Andrew Richardson, and books on Roman life to design the model.
Close up of the front of the model villa Photo: Ray Duff
He first made two versions of the model at 1/50th and 1/75th scales, but they were too large for the actual size of the villa site. He then settled on a 1/100th scale version, which he used to make a ‘maquette’ model from card and other materials. He also added a stylised forecourt area and tiny figurines that he carved and painted to show various people and activities in and around the villa.
The model has a removable roof section that reveals some of the interior rooms, such as the nursery, the slave quarters, the mosaic dining room, and others. The mosaic dining room is based on the remains that were re-excavated last year.
The maquette’s, drawings and books used for the design Photo: Ray Duff
The model will be displayed in Folkestone Museum soon, with some further additions.
During Mike Perry’s Film and TV career he worked on films such as ‘The Italian Job’ in the 1960s, where he secured the bus for the famous cliffhanger ending. He also worked on TV shows such as ‘Auf Weidersehen Pet’ and many others. He now has a model making studio in Folkestone.
Sight of the detailed interior room designs Photo: Ray Duff
A new excavation near the villa site on East Cliff will start on Monday 14 August and run until around Friday 06 October 2023. It is organised by Canterbury Archaeology Trust, with assistance from Folkestone Research and Archaeology Group and Dover Archaeology Group.
More details:
- Folkestone Museum https://www.facebook.com/folkestonemuseum
- Canterbury Archaeology Trust https://www.canterburytrust.co.uk/
- Folkestone Research and Archaeology Trust https://www.facebook.com/FolkestoneResearchAndArchaeologyGroup/