Stanton Chair |
Hob Uid: 385417 | |
Location : Suffolk West Suffolk Stanton
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Grid Ref : TL9550074200 |
Summary : Site of a Roman villa excavated between 1935-39. The area excavated clearly does not represent the full extent of the complex. The excavators suggested that they had uncovered the west wing of a courtyard building. The earliest phase appears to have been a timber aisled or corridor building, constructed prior to 130 AD. This appears to have been replaced and extended with flint footings. To the southwest was a baths block, including a hypocaust, the block apparently undegoing several phases of alteration, probably during the 2nd century. This baths block was built into the rooms added to the south west of the aisled building. A separate building was located to the north east. These were connected to the main building by a gravel path and featured another bath house, this one apparently belonging to the 4th century. Coins and pottery recovered from the site suggest occupation right through until at least the end of the 4th century. There is some evidence of pagan Saxon activity, possibly associated with evidence for iron working. Iron Age finds were also recovered. The villa site is scheduled. |
More information : (TL 955742)Roman villa (site of) (NAT) (1) At Stanton Chair, or Chare, a Roman Villa site was excavated from 1935 to 1939. The building formed the south west side of a large establishment which was provided with 2 bath houses, rooms with painted walls and window glass (see plan). Coins found suggest occupation from the 1st to the 2nd century AD, separated by destruction by fire after the middle of the 2nd century. The excavation of the southern wing was not completed but plans of the site together with objects found are in Ipswich Museum. (2-6) The building (not floor) at 'A' on the plan was not excavated or positively located by B Brown. It was dug out for road material 'some years' before excavation in 1935. It was about 10-12 feet square, "like the foundations of a church tower" with large flints and tiles set in mortar at the base. No pottery or black earth, characteristic of rubbish spreads elsewhere, was noticed, but there was some chalk rubble. (7) Scheduled as 'Roman Villa at Stanton Chair'. (8)
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