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Chedworth Roman Villa
View of the site
Type Roman villa
Location Chedworth Woods
Coordinates 51°49′11″N 1°55′28″WCoordinates: 51°49′11″N 1°55′28″W
OS grid reference SP 05297 13465
Area Gloucestershire
Built c. 120 CE
Architectural style(s) Roman
Owner National Trust
Scheduled monument
Official name Chedworth Roman villa
Designated 5 January 1927
Reference no. 1003324
Location of Chedworth Roman Villa in Gloucestershire

Chedworth Roman Villa is located near Chedworth, Gloucestershire, England.[1] It is one of the largest and most elaborate Roman villas so far discovered in Britain and one with the latest occupation beyond the Roman period. The villa was built in phases from the early 2nd century to the 5th century, with the 4th century construction transforming the building into an elite dwelling arranged around three sides of a courtyard. The 4th century building included a heated and furnished west wing containing a dining-room (triclinium) with a fine mosaic floor, as well as two separate bathing suites: one for damp-heat and one for dry-heat.

The villa was discovered in 1863, and it was excavated and put on display soon afterwards. It was acquired in 1924 by the National Trust who have conducted a long-term conservation programme, with new on-site facilities and cover-buildings. It is debated amongst historians whether Chedworth was a villa rustica or a religious sanctuary and hostel, as evidence has been found in support of both arguments. However most currently believe that Chedworth was the former, inhabited by a very wealthy Romano-Briton. It is a scheduled monument.[2]

Siting

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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 miles (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]

History

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Detail of the Triclinium mosaic showing the spirit of winter

Goodburn [8]suggests that the initial construction was related to the retirement of veteran soldiers as the area became settled under roman rule. The two nearest settlements were Glevum (Gloucester), founded in 97 C.E and Corinium (Cirencester) founded in about 50 C.E. When these centres ceased to be military bases, the soldiers retired to lands provided by the roman governorship. These lands were provided in recognition of military service. It is noteworthy that twenty-two roman villas have been found within a ten mile radius of Chedwoth. The villa has gone through several stages of growth and rebuilding. A clear and robust interpretation of the evidence of these different stages can be found both graphically and textually in Goodburn's book produced for the National Trust.[9] The villa was founded about 120 AD,[10] 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.[11] The original structures were quite utilitarian in nature and did not reflect the later grandeur of the estate. Archaeologists have identified at least six different periods of construction or re-construction.[12] All of these stages resulted in an expansion or an improvement of the original buildings.

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.[11]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.[11] The dining-room (triclinium) received its mosaics and the northern half of the west wing was converted to become a second set of baths.[11] Shortly afterwards (Phase IIIA) the baths in the north wing were rebuilt and changed to dry-heat (laconicum) baths,[11] which meant that the villa had both damp-heat and dry-heat bathing suites.[10] 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.[11] Many of the rooms, particularly the dining rooms were heated by Hypocaust.

Hypocaust at Chedworth



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.[13][14][15][16] This is the first evidence that Roman lifestyles continued in Britain much longer than was 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.

Carus-Wilson[17] has suggested that there may have been a fulling operation on the site during the 1200's. Perhaps an early article in Scientific American (June 1925) promoted the thought.[18] This idea has been latterly disproved by Peter Salway.[19]


The Chedworth Roman Villa was discovered in the winter of 1863 by a shooting party led byJames Farrer M.P.[20] The Earl of Eldon, owner of the property sponsored the initial dig which unearthed several mosaics; subsequently these works of art were reburied for their preservation.[21] In 1924 the site was purchased for the National Trust and has been developed under the supervision of the NT since that time.[22]

Nymphaeum

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Nymphaeum

The pool in the northwest corner of the villa complex was developed from the naturally occurring fresh-water spring which most likely inspired the location of the villa in the first place. The spring became a location for an apsidal shrine to the water-nymphs (nymphaeum). The extant curved rear wall is 2 metres high and is the original Roman masonry.[23] All of the water needs of the villa were provided for by this spring. An octagonal pool is located at the centre and is still fed by the spring; a Christian chi-rho monogram was discovered scratched onto what was the rim of the pool.[24]This clearly Christian symbol had a short presence in the early fourth century but was soon replaced by the original water-nymphs.[25]

  1. ^ Esmonde Cleary, A., DARMC, R. Talbert, J. Åhlfeldt, R. Warner, J. Becker, S. Gillies, T. Elliott. "Places: 79383 (Chedworth)". Pleiades. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved March 16, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Historic England. "Chedworth Roman Villa (1003324)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  3. ^ a b McCloy & Midgley 2008, p. 90
  4. ^ Goodburn, Roger (1972). The Roman Villa: Chedworth. London: Curwen Press. p. 9.
  5. ^ Goodburn, Roger (1972). The Roman Villa: Chedworth. London: Curwen Press. p. 12.
  6. ^ McCloy & Midgley 2008, p. 95
  7. ^ Wilson 2002, p. 195
  8. ^ Goodburn, Roger (1989). The Roman villa, Chedworth. The National Trust.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  9. ^ Goodburn, Roger (1989). The Roman villa, Chedworth. The National Trust.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  10. ^ a b McCloy & Midgley 2008, p. 95
  11. ^ a b c d e f Wilson 2002, p. 191
  12. ^ Goodburn, Roger (1989). The Roman villa, Chedworth. The National Trust.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  13. ^ The 5th Century Chedworth Mosaic: https://archaeologynationaltrustsw.wordpress.com/tag/chedworth-roman-villa/
  14. ^ Morris, Steven (10 December 2020). "Stunning dark ages mosaic found at Roman villa in Cotswolds". Guardian. Archived from the original on 10 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  15. ^ "Chedworth Roman Villa: Mosaic's age stuns historians". BBC. Archived from the original on 10 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  16. ^ "Britain's first known 5th century mosaic found at Chedworth Roman Villa". National Trust. Archived from the original on 10 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  17. ^ Carus-Wilson, E.M. (1941). [www.jstor.org/stable/2590709 "An Industrial Revolution of the Thirteenth Century"]. The Economic History Review. 11 no.1: 39–60 – via jstor. {{cite journal}}: Check |url= value (help)
  18. ^ Forestier, A.; Moss (1925). "The Roman Villa at Chedworth". Scientific American. 132 (6): 378–379. ISSN 0036-8733.
  19. ^ Salway, Peter (2008). "A Publication Policy for Chedworth". Britannia. 39: 253–256. ISSN 0068-113X.
  20. ^ Goodburn, Roger (1989). The Roman Villa Chedworth. National Trust.
  21. ^ Goodburn, Roger (1989). The Roman Villa Chedworth. National Trust.
  22. ^ Goodburn, Roger (1989). The Roman Villa Chedworth. National Trust.
  23. ^ Wilson 2002, p. 195
  24. ^ Wilson 2002, p. 197
  25. ^ "The Water Shrine at Chedworth Roman Villa".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

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