Chedworth Roman Villa

The villa stands in a sheltered, shady, position overlooking the River Coln in the Cotswold Hills in Gloucestershire. It was located just off the Roman road known as the Fosse Way, and 8 mi (13 km) north of the important town of Corinium Dobunnorum (Cirencester).[3] Cirencester's reputation as a centre of tribal government and a civitas capital led to quick romanisation of the area and resulting prosperity.[4] Chedworth's location in the Cotswolds and the valley of the River Coln was important for agriculture.[5] It was one of about fifty villas in the Cotswolds,[3] and one of nine in just a 5 mi (8.0 km) radius.[6]

The villa was deliberately located next to a natural spring in the north west corner of the complex which was the villa's main source of water, and around which was later built an apsidal shrine to the water-nymphs (nymphaeum).[7]

Detail of the Triclinium mosaic showing the spirit of winter

The villa was founded about 120 AD,[6] and during this earliest phase (Phase I) the villa consisted of separate buildings around 3 sides of a rectangle open to the east with a bath house to the north.[8] In the early 3rd century (Phase II) the west and south wings were rebuilt following a fire, and the north bath suite was enlarged with extra rooms added to its eastern side.[8]

In the early 4th century (Phase III), the villa was transformed into an elite dwelling enclosing the courtyard. The existing wings were linked by a covered portico, and an inner garden and outer courtyard were created.[8] The dining-room (triclinium) received its mosaics and the northern half of the west wing was converted to become a second set of baths.[8] Shortly afterwards (Phase IIIA) the baths in the north wing were rebuilt and changed to dry-heat (laconicum) baths,[8] which meant that the villa had both damp-heat and dry-heat bathing suites.[6] The floors of at least 15 rooms were decorated with mosaics. In the late 4th century (Phase IV) the north wing was extended with the addition of a new dining-room.[8]

Unique in Britain, a significant building phase of a Roman villa dating from the 5th century after the end of Roman rule in Britain (410) was discovered here in 2017. In room 28 the mosaic and walls on the east and west sides were installed after 424.[9][10][11][12] This is the first evidence that Roman civilisation in Britain continued much longer than previously thought, as the building of new rooms with a mosaic shows that prosperity, including mosaic workshops, extended for at least 50 years later than had been expected.

Later a workshop was installed on top of the mosaic floor and two hearths, made out of pieces of architecture of the villa, were built into the worn floor of the room. Other mosaics in neighbouring rooms, including room 30, show stylistic similarities and may also be of the 5th century.

52% of the coins found at the villa date from 564-585 showing that intensive occupation continued into the post-Roman period.[13]

Nymphaeum

The spring-fed pool in the northwest corner of the villa complex was the location of the apsidal shrine to the water-nymphs (nymphaeum). The curved rear wall is 2 metres high and is the original Roman masonry.[7] An octagonal pool is located at the centre and is still fed by the spring; a Christian chi-rho monogram was discovered scratched on the rim of the pool.[14]

Stone carving of a hunter with a dog and stag

Foundations of a Romano-British temple have been excavated about 800 metres south-east of the villa buildings.[15] The remains comprise the southwest and southeast corners of a rectangular building, measuring 16.5m by 16.0m.[15] Altars preserved in the villa museum probably came from the temple as did coins, glass tesserae and a stone carved niche.[15]

There was, however, another Roman building in Chedworth Woods about 150 metres northwest of the villa which was destroyed in the construction of the railway around 1869.[16] Finds included coins, hexagonal tiles, fragments of pillars, part of a shell-headed niche and glass tesserae.[16] The stone relief of a "hunter god" with hare, dog and stag, sometimes ascribed to the southeast temple, may have come from this site.[16]

Another carved figure was discovered bearing a fragmentary inscription which it is believed may refer to the healing god Mars Lenus, a deity of the Treveri tribe in Gaul.[14]

The villa was accidentally discovered in 1864 by Thomas Margetts, a gamekeeper who was digging for a ferret,[17] and found fragments of paving and pottery.[18] The site was subsequently excavated in 1865-7 by James Farrer,[17] an antiquarian and the Member of Parliament for South Durham. The owner of the land was the Earl of Eldon,[18] and it was he who financed the excavations, roofing for the mosaics, and the building of the mock-Tudor lodge to house the artifacts.[17] Little, if anything, of the excavations was recorded. Only the best four mosaics were left exposed under shelters and the rest were reburied for their protection.[19]

In 1924 the villa was acquired by the National Trust.[17] Excavations have taken place periodically since then.[18][20]

In 1957-1965 Prof. Ian Richmond excavated and re-interpreted Chedworth but died in 1965 without publishing any results.[21] Parts of the villa were re-buried.

In 2011 a new cover building was provided for the mosaics in the west wing to ensure their preservation.[22]

A geophysical survey of the field east of the villa in 2012 revealed a central approach road running up from the valley floor and two other buildings, one a circular stone structure on the south side of the road.[23]

A new excavation campaign started in 2013 on the north wing and has revealed previously unrecorded mosaics, partially destroyed by Ian Richmond in 1964.[24]

• 
  West Bath mosaic
• 
  Triclinium mosaic
• 
  Hypocaust room 32
• 
  West wing corridor mosaic

The pavement mosaics in several rooms exhibit the typical geometric meander patterns found in other Roman villas throughout England. The dining room floor contains one of the most elaborate geometric designs found in the villa. Although in good condition, there are substantial portions of it missing. However, a simple mathematical algorithm has been discovered that is able to reconstruct the missing parts of the mosaic from what is still there.[25]

In recent times, it was considered that Victorian efforts at conservation on the site were outdated and that the early shelters weren't providing sufficient protection. The National Trust appointed Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios to design a new conservation building as well as a learning facility for the archaeological site. At the same time the reception building was refurbished. The £2.2m project was completed in March 2012.[26]

• McCloy, Andrew; Midgley, Andrew (2008), Discovering Roman Britain, New Holland, ISBN 1847731287
• Wilson, Roger (2002), A guide to the Roman Remains in Britain, Constable, ISBN 1841193186
• Goodburn, Roger. (1972), The Roman Villa: Chedworth, Curwen Press, ISBN 0900562927

• Simon Esmonde Cleary, (2012), Chedworth Roman Villa. National Trust Guide. ISBN 1843593815
• Stephanie Jeane Toussaint, (2013), "A comparative geometric analysis of the patterns found on the pavement mosaics of the Chedworth Roman villa." In Proceedings of Bridges Enschede: Mathematics, Music, Art, Architecture, Culture, Hart, G. & Sarhangi, R., (Eds.), Enschede, The Netherlands, July 27–31, pp. 55–62.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chedworth Roman Villa.

• Chedworth Roman Villa information at the National Trust
• Chedworth Roman Villa Information and photos of Chedworth Roman Villa
• Heritage Trail page
• Heritage at Risk Register: Chedworth+Roman+Villa