| Summary : The site of a Roman villa at Stainby was discovered by workmen in 1815 while quarrying stone for repairs to a road. They found traces of walls, "a bath", a tessellated pavement, a hypocaust, plus tiles and coins. Both Scott and Whitwell refer to air photograph evidence for the villa, though neither give a source. Air photographs examined by RCHME in 1996 contained no indications of the villa. |
More information : "In the early part of March last ... in forming a road
in the parish of Stainby, in Lincolnshire (heretofore the old
post road between Post Witham and Grantham into the North), the
remains of a Roman villa have been discovered; its situation is
on a declivity to the south-east, near the course of the river
Witham, and about a mile west of the Roman road to Lincoln. Many
loads of good shaped stones have been taken from the walls
under-ground; a mosaic pavement of rather rude workmanship has
been discovered; also a bath; there is the appearance of extensive
premises .... Roman tiles, strong cement and several Roman coins,
have been found." (1)
"The Steanby villa was discovered in 1815 by some labourers employed
in getting stone to repair the old post road; they struck upon
walls ... part of a Roman villa ... also the remains of a hypocaust
and a passage paved with tesserae." (2)
The church of Colsterworth is "... about half a mile north of the
site of a Roman villa, where there is, or was, a tesselated
pavement in a grass field now called Stanby Cow-pasture ..." (3)
Area SK 921222 A single field now divided up into five fields
stretching from Stainby Warren to the old post road, which is
marked on the 1st edition of the OS 1" map, is the only place that
fits the descriptions given in the above authorities. (4)
An examination of all available air photographs revealed no evidence
of the Roman villa described by the previous authorities. (5) |