More information : TF 73541806. ROMAN VILLA (R) (remains of) (1)
The Roman villa at Gayton Thorpe consisted of two buildings, the
north block and a later south block. Excavations in 1922 by
W L Charlton uncovered rooms K, L, M, and N in north block and
one in south block (see plan). Later excavations in 1923 showed
the north block as an advanced 'corridor' type, incorporating a
bathhouse (rooms B, C, D and F). A mosaic of elaborate design
was found in room L, but floors of rooms O, P1 and P2 had
disappeared leaving only remains of hypocaust pillars. The south
block was originally an isolated structure, mainly ill-preserved
except that room one had a largely intact mosaic floor, later
damaged. Finds from the site include three 3rd.c.coins a small
quantity of Samian ware, mortaria and rustic ware, suggesting
occupation from 150-170 AD to 300-320 AD. (2)
Small bronze plaque with bird motif, also a fragment of repousse
bronze from horse harness or casket decorated in Celtic style
c.AD. 40-60.
In King's Lynn Museum. (3)
A mass of pink mortar and hypocaust tiles were revealed by deep
ploughing in 1966, seventy yards south of the Roman villa at
Gayton Thorpe. Probably a detached bath-house. (4)
The published site lies on level sandy soil at present under
plough.
No structural remains of the villa are visible on the surface
but a dense scatter of pottery (over ten sherds per square
metre) is visible for about 100.0m on a slight north west-south
east ridge.
According to the farmer at the Manor House a protection fence
was erected at TF 73531805 over a buried mosaic floor, but the
exact room was not identified. No further buildings were traced
to the south of the site. (5)
TF 735 181. The base of a Roman jar was found in 1983 as a surface find whilst fieldwalking the Roman villa. A graffito read 'Odysseus'. (6)
TF 735 181. a further sherd with a graffito reading 'if Athena (then its) Minerva' was found in 1985 during fieldwalking. (7)
Additional references. (8-10)
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