More information : (SP 39932008) Roman Villa (R) (site of) (NAT) (1)
This site of a Roman Villa at Ditchley (see plan) was excavated in 1935. It consisted of a rectangular, walled and ditched enclosure 300 yds square, within which in the beginning were a wooden house and other simple buildings. The wooden house was replaced by a stone house with a tiled roof, and this was later extended. About AD 200 the house was burnt and then deserted, but later reoccupied and replanned as a two storey winged corridor house. Within the enclosure was a well, a circular threshing floor and a granary, which replaced some earlier buildings (see plan). Coins, pottery and other finds indicate an occupation period from about AD 70 into the 5th century. (2)
The published site of this villa was confirmed by Mr J Hunt, Lodge Farm, who was present at the time of excavation; the site is now, in part, covered by young afforestation and in part under pasture. There are no surface indications of either the building or excavation and no surface finds were made. OS APs (72/043 144 145) inspected but show nothing. Oxford Museum (Woodstock) hold a large collection of plans and photographs of the excavation. All finds are in the Ashmolean Oxford. (3)
Aerial photos taken by Major G W G Allen in 1934 clearly show the villa and associated structures (see authority 2). (There are however discrepancies in g. references SP 409200). (4)
OX 21 Listed as the site of a Roman villa. (5)
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