More information : [SU 7738 1252] Roman Villa [G.S.] (1)
Ro. Villa. (2)
Ro. villa, corridor type, at Watergate Hanger near West Marden was excavated by Talfourd Ely between 1907 and 1910. Great Busto, a mound SE of the villa, was excavated by S.E. Winbolt in 1924 and revealed Ro. sherds, tiles and a piece of Samian ware. (3-4)
The excavated area, a jumbled mass of overgrown foundations, pits and spoil heaps within fairly well-defined limits, 18.0m E-W by 14.0m N-S, is situated in woodland at SU 77341264. The ground is littered with flints and fragments of tile and brick. Some tile tesserae were also found.
Site surveyed at 1:2500.
150.0m SE of the site, at SU77431252, is a large irregular spread of flints, up to 0.7m in height, probably the excavated remains of the mound investigated by Winbolt in 1924.
Mr Gomme, the landowner, of Great Busto, has in his possession a coin of Constantine (AD 306-337), in very fine condition, found a few years ago in an adjoining field at SU 77381264 after ploughing. (5)
Re-assessment of Ely's excavation plan by Mr Roger Goodbourn. He suggests that it may represent the western part ond one other room, to the east of a range, plus a bath suite. The `road' to the east and the `platform' in Bustomeadow may be the rubble from other buildings. (6)
The villa was relocated and re-excavated in 1984. A 3-roomed cottage became a winged corridor villa. Pottery indicated occupation for the mid-2nd to the 4th century. (7)
Brief note on further work at the site in 1984/5. (8)
WS 32 Listed as the site of a Roman villa. (9)
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