Roman bathhouses weren’t just about relaxation; they were hubs of grooming and personal adornment. These finds reveal that even amidst indulgent baths, Romans were dedicated to looking their best. They also provide insight into the status and wealth of Shadwell residents and visitors, and their day-to-day life. Almost one hundred hair pins, used by Roman women to keep their elaborate hair styles in place, were recovered from the vicinity of the bathhouse, mostly bone, although three were made of jet and one was of copper-alloy. The jet and metal examples are considered to be the more expensive and desirable types. The much larger representation of bone hair pins, which could have been made at home, in the assemblage may suggest that many of the women at Shadwell were of relatively low status.

Additional personal adornments found at the site included bracelets made from shale or copper-alloy, with one made from ivory, as well as finger-rings, which bear witness to the aspirations of the inhabitants of Shadwell, suggesting that even if they didn’t belong to the highest echelons of society, they were keen to elevate their status and make a statement through their adornments.