Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

Itchen Abbas Roman Villa
Hob Uid: 235842
Location : Hampshire Winchester Itchen Valley
Grid Ref : SU5293034280
Summary : The buried remains of a prehistoric settlement and Roman Villa. The earlier settlement dates to the late Iron Age and consists of enclosures, ditches and trackways which are visible as cropmarks. The villa is situated on the northern side of the earlier settlement. Both settlements lie on a slight south facing slope immediately below the crest of a chalk ridge which overlooks the valley of the River Itchen.The prehistoric settlement includes a large sub-rectangular ditched enclosure (c. 60m by 30m) with an entrance on its north east side. Attached to the north side of this enclosure is a semicircular ditched annexe. Other associated features include a series of smaller enclosures, linking trackways, boundaries and part of a field system. Pottery recovered from the field surface in this area suggests a date in the late Iron Age.The villa was investigated in 1878 and 1879 when an area of approximately 18m by 15m was uncovered. Five rooms were uncovered, four of which were laid out around a possible courtyard (not excavated). The four rooms around the courtyard contained mosaics; three of which had decorative panels.The wall plaster in the rooms survived to a maximum height of 30 cm and the remains of a hypocaust system for underfloor heating were also discovered.
More information : [SU 5288 3430] ROMAN VILLA [G.S.] (Site of) (1) A Roman villa site at Itchen Abbas was excavated in 1878 by the Rev. C. Collier. Five rooms were uncovered, 3 with tessellated pavements [see plan and photos AO/57/71/5-8]. Finds included pottery of about 8 different kinds, 2 coins, one of Constantine, bones, oyster shells, etc (2)(3). Scheduled (4). (2-4) [Centred at SU 5293 3428] to the S.E. of the villa site part of an oval enclosure is visible as crop and soilmarks on air photographs. Connected with it is a complicated series of ditches, etc. This is presumably an Iron Age settlement site, the predecessor of the villa. (5-7) The area of the villa site is littered with Roman building debris. In a ploughed field to the S.E. of the copse, within the area of the oval enclosure seen on the air photographs, 19 sherds of pottery were found of which 5 were identified by F. Cottrill, curator of Winchester Museum as Iron Age (prob. 'AB' or 'C'). The enclosure and its associated earthworks have been ploughed out. (8) [SU 5288 3430] There are no surveyable remains of the villa. The general siting is clear enough from the debris and the open sided barn-like structure erected over the infilled excavation where a mosaic was formerly exposed. (9) No change. (10) HA 50 Listed as the site of a Roman villa. (11) The remains of a prehistoric settlement and Roman villa visible as cropmarks. The earlier settlement includes enclosures, ditches and trackways. Iron Age pottery and a Roman hypocaust system have been found. (12)

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Source Number : 1
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Source details : Ordnance Survey 6" map sheet 1911
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Source Number : 2
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Source details : P 504 - Illust. (C. Collier)
Page(s) : 233-4
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Vol(s) : 34, 1878

Source Number : 11
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Page(s) : 84
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Source Number : 12
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Source details : 25-Jul-96
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Source Number : 12
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Page(s) : 65
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Source Number : 3
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Source details : F.p 209 plan (C. Collier)
Page(s) : 109-110
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Vol(s) : 35, 1879

Source Number : 4
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Source details : Ancient Monuments England & Wales (MOW) (1958) p41
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Source Number : 5
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Source details : R.A.F. Aerial photographs, CPE/UK/1842/3158-9
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Source Number : 6
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Source details : Crawford Collection. A.P X 313/38/99
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Source Number : 7
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Source details : First OS Archaeology Recorder VJB 04-FEB-56
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Source Number : 8
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Source details : First OS Archaeology Field Investigator VJB 04-FEB-56
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Source Number : 9
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Source details : Second OS Archaeology Field Investigator NVQ 14-AUG-61
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Source Number : 10
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Source details : Third OS Archaeology Field Investigator FGA 17-JUL-68
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Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : Iron Age
Display Date : Iron Age
Monument End Date : 43
Monument Start Date : -800
Monument Type : Enclosed Settlement, Ditch, Enclosure, Trackway
Evidence : Cropmark

Monument Period Name : Roman
Display Date : Roman
Monument End Date : 410
Monument Start Date : 43
Monument Type : Villa, Tessellated Floor
Evidence : Sub Surface Deposit

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (County No.)
External Cross Reference Number : HA 167
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Guardianship Number
External Cross Reference Number : 330
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : Scheduled Monument Legacy (National No.)
External Cross Reference Number : 26705
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : SU 53 SW 4
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : EXCAVATION
Start Date : 1878-01-01
End Date : 1878-12-31

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1956-02-04
End Date : 1956-02-04

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1961-08-14
End Date : 1961-08-14

Associated Activities :
Activity type : FIELD OBSERVATION (VISUAL ASSESSMENT)
Start Date : 1968-07-17
End Date : 1968-07-17

Historic England Research Records

Itchen Abbas Roman Villa