More information : SP 34256245. Substantial remains of a building near Pounce
Hill Farm, Radford Semele, have been brought to the surface by
ploughing, over the last decade or more. The site slopes gently to
the south and there are slight indications of a large level area
where the establishment must have existed. Scatters of stone clearly
indicate the presence of buildings round a central area and there are
other small scatters and changes of soil colour suggesting other
buildings or yards to the west and east of the main complex. Finds
from the surface include much roof and flue tile, tesserae of white
stone occur thickly with mortar in small areas. The large amount of
surface pottery includes late Antonine, Samian, 4th century colour
coated wares and much local grey calcite-gritted wares.
One tile in the possession of the farmer is stamped ARVERI, the same
die which has been found in Gloucestershire at Frocester, Barnsley
Park, Chedwork and Cirencester. The farmer, Mr Gibbs of Hill Farm,
reports striking masonry below ground and the digging out of stone
walls. (1)
Excavations in 1974 revealed the poorly preserved remains of a Roman
villa, with an area of limestone metalling, pits and ditches. The
buildings ranged in date from the mid 2nd to the late 4th century;
some had stone footings, others were entirely of timber resting in
foundation-slots. In the field to the W at SP 339626 a metalled road
was located and partially sectioned. It was of limestone and gravel,
some 4m. broad, and apparently connected the villa to the Foss Way,
(2-3)
Additional bibliography. (4)
The three sides of a large rectilinear ditched enclosure is visible as a cropmark, in the same field as the excavations referred to by the above authorities (Sources 1-3), on an aerial photograph taken in 1986. It is likely that this enclosure is part of the villa complex and is Roman in date. The photograph was viewed as part of the SE Warwickshire and Cotswolds HLS NMP project, but a rectification of the photograph was not possible and the enclosure has not been mapped. (5) |