More information : Chalk wall foundations and a line of tessellated flooring were seen at about SU 140580 in a section of a grave dug in Manningford Bruce Church in 1958. (1) Visited by F K Annable who gives siting as SU 13985802. (2) The postion of the grave was pointed out by Mr A T Newman, at SU 1402558058, in the churchyard extension. (3-4)
The reconstruction of a dividing wall between the churchyard and Old Rectory Garden exposed a small area of mosaic pavement, geometric in design, badly damaged by grave digging and frost action. Another mosaic was located to the south east which appeared to have been the floor of a forward corridor. Excavations to the north east, carried out on the suspected alignment of the main Roman wing, indicated a building c. 50m in length, with a possible winged extension or second building with a bath suite nearby. Investigations within the Old Rectory Garden located building debris indicating the probable west wing of a courtyard villa complex, 3rd-4th century AD in date. (5) |