More information : E Pretty refers to the discovery of a tessellated pavement in 1846 (1), being 22' long by 10' wide and says that other finds were made to a considerable extent beyond the spot(2). Haverfield quoting from Whellan attests the discovery of an extensive villa and in particular a floor of rough unornamented tessellation on the rising ground north of Harpole village (3) Pretty's 2 1/2" map (1854) shows a 'Pavement' sited at the NW corner of the road junction of Harpole (4). 'SP68936209 Harpole Villa - site first probed on 14.3.1953; site recently trenched into for field drainage (Barn Close). Pot-sherds and fragments of roofing tiles in back-filling. Barn close now pasture but under plough 20 years ago. The Mere recently ploughed for first time within memory. Many limestone tesserae and other indications scattered about. Situated at top of gentle rise: land falling to SE and NW'. (5) Roman sherds, tile, tessera found June 1967, along pipeline at 690620. The siting of this villa on Pretty's map is highly suspect, but Frost's siting would appear to agree with the verbal description attributed to Whellan. No trace on available APs (RAF 1949). (1-6) The pipeline mentioned by Auth 6 traverses this site from SP69216234 to SP68986180; this line was perambulated and a heavy scatter of building debris, RB potsherds a tesserae was found centred to SP69066200. A lighter scatter of pottery was found all over this field except in the SW corner. (7)
Listed in gazetteer of Roman villas. (8)
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