Chedworth Roman Villa

 

Artist’s Impression of the villa complex at Chedworth.

Introduction 

Tonight, I am reporting on one of England's best Roman Villa sites, namely that of Chedworth  Location is about 12 miles north of Cirencester in the English Cotswolds and about ninety miles N.W. of London.

Information on Chedworth Roman Villa 

 Landscape view with emphasis on the North Range 

This high status complex commenced around AD 120 and reached its zenith in the late 4th century AD.The site is distinguished by opulence, in particular the extremely high quality floor mosaics, bath houses and centrally heated living quarters, all on a grand scale as illustrated in the artist’s impression at top of this post..The Villa went into decline in tandem with the collapse of Roman power in the late 4th and early 5th centuries. It was re-discovered by chance in 1864 when first excavated and has been open to the public ever since.

NB: Recent archaeology on the site has indicated that the elite way of life at Chedworth continued through to the 5th-6th centuries.This is consistent with other research in southern England which suggests that the Roman way of life continued well after the AD 410 withdrawal by Rome.As the local populace knew nothing other than Roman rule it would be logical for Roman law and customs to continue on 'auto pilot'-until the Saxons arrived.

The rich and vibrant colours of the mosaics (illustrated below) have survived some 1700 years burial underground and are testimony to the skills of the craftsmen who were responsible for the work. They probably worked from a base in nearby Corinium (Cirencester).

 Walk way in West Range


 Mosaic in Warm Room

 Mosaic in West Range

 Mosaic in West Range

 Mosaic in West Range



More Information:

  • The site was probably chosen because of the existence of fresh water from a natural spring which rises at head of the small valley (combe) in which the villa is located.
  • Here can be found good examples of Roman under-floor heating known as hypocausts.
  • Key facilities include two bath houses, a water shrine, dining room, kitchen and latrine.
  • The site is owned and managed by England’s National Trust, a major heritage organisation.

 

 

Dry heat bath

 

Water Shrine and water supply. 

Hypocaust flooring in North Range

Illustration of North Wing of the Villa

 

Cold plunge bath (Note this was full of stagnant water which would have resulted in health issues arising from multiple and sweaty bathers using the facility.)

 

 Bath with hypocaust flooring

Reproduction artefacts

 

Combined latrine and Cooking Area

In this case persons wishing to use the toilet facilities would have had to pass through the kitchen area. Despite the Romans skills in sanitation and medicine they had no understanding of links between human faeces and afflictions such as whipworm. 

More Roman sites can be seen at North Leigh, Swalcliffe Lea, Brading, Newt and Fishbourne.

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