More information : SE 785 656. This is composed of a group of rectangular enclosures immediately to the west of the road (see SE 76 NE/51), which are apparently focused on a possible open yard area. There is no indication of individual structures or buildings within them and no finds later than prehistoric from the area. (1)
The cropmark rectangular enclosures described by authority 1 were mapped from good quality air photographs and interpreted as a Roman villa with several phases of development. The earliest phase is a rectangular enclosure, 60m by 50m, centred at SE 7846 6558 and partly double ditched at its south-east corner. It is on a slightly different alignment to the later phases. From its north-west corner a ditch extends eastward for about 50m. A small rectangular enclosure (20m by 18m) at SE 7832 6561 is on a similar alignment to the ditch. Further boundaries at SE 7824 6562 may also be associated with this small enclosure.
The later phases of settlement are characterised by various large rectangular enclosures, some of which are double ditched, that appear to consume the earlier enclosure. Although there are no villa type buildings visible, these enclosures seem to be typical of villas in the area.
These later enclosures appear to be attached to the west side of a track (SE 76 NE 51), which is presumably of a similar date. Field boundaries possibly associated with the villa are recorded in (SE 76 NE 58).
This description is based on data from the RCHME MORPH2 database. (2)
The rectangular enclosures described by authorities 1 and 2 were mapped in detail at 1:2,500 as part of the RCHME: Burythorpe Project and were interpreted as a Roman villa complex. A provisional phasing was attempted as a means of facilitating description. However, it must be remembered that certain elements may form parts of several phases as it is assumed that the site was in continued use over a number of decades, if not centuries.
The complex probably originated with a group of small enclosures centred at SE 7846 6558 (as stated by authority 2), bounded to the north by an east-west ditch. Subsequent phases seem to have extended activity both north and south of this ditch, while the final phase appears to be the construction of a large rectangular enclosure with an annexe, enclosing all previous activity. The southern ditch of the annexe encompasses the large rectangular enclosure, suggesting that it is an extension. This equates with authority 2's description of the later phases of settlement being characterised by various large rectangular enclosures. However, the individual elements of the final phase were not previously recognised and neither of the elements are double-ditched. Phase 4 of the villa may relate to the possible Roman field system to the east (see SE 76 NE 58) because of its relative alignment. The relationship between the track and the villa site, mentioned by authority 2, is more fully described in SE 76 NE 51.
The small rectangular enclosure at SE 7832 6561, described by authority 2, was recorded. The dimensions differ slightly, 26m by 27m, from those quoted by authority 2. It is difficult to determine a date for this enclosure as it is located half way between the villa complex and a series of Prehistoric enclosures (see SE 76 NE 54). To the south east of this enclosure (at SE 7835 6559) is a much smaller, incomplete enclosure, approximately 8m wide, which could also be associated with either the villa complex or the series of Prehistoric enclosures to the west.
The boundary (centred at SE 7824 6562), described by authority 2, is on a different alignment to the villa complex, but does seem to be similar in form to the suggested field system (see SE 76 NE 58) to the east of the villa. (3) |