Monument Number 398675 |
| Hob Uid: 398675 | |
Location :
West Sussex
Adur
Non Civil Parish
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| Grid Ref : TQ2446005650 |
| Summary : A minor Romano-British villa at Manor Hall Road, Southwick. The villa complex, which survives in buried form to the north and south of Manor Hall Road, has been interpreted as lying at the centre of an agricultural estate which exploited the fertile soils of the coastal plain to the east of the River Adur. The villa was first investigated in 1815, and further investigations carried out during the 20th century suggested that the easrliest buildings on the site date to the years between AD 70-80. The complex underwent at least one phase of major redevelopment and was occupied from circa AD 100-350. The investigations also indicated the presence earlier buildings, represented by a group of post holes and shallow pits. The analysis of pottery fragments found nearby suggest that these date to the Iron Age. The largest Roman building is a west-east aligned dwelling house measuring circa 28 metres by circa 17 metres, with circa 0.6 metre wide wall footings constructed of mortared flints. The house is divided into at least eight rooms, heated by an hypocaust. A heated bath suite adjoins the north western corner of the building. Finds associated with the villa include fragments of window glass, roof tiles, samian pottery and painted wall plaster. To the south of the main building is a square courtyard measuring circa 28 metres. This has a detached bath house on its eastern side, and a workshop or barn along its southern edge. |
More information : (TQ 24460568) Roman Villa (GS) (Site of) (1)
(TQ 24460565) Roman Villa, Southwick, on the east side of Southwick Street and south of the triangle: discovered 1815, and excavated at various times. (2)
It combined corridor and courtyard types. A set of baths existed in the NW corner and others in the SE corner. A separate building, probably a workshop, was identified with a roadway to the south of the main buildings. Finds indicated an occupation c AD100 to c 350 with some La Tene III material. Some finds in Hove Museum. (3-4)
No visible remains of the villa to be seen. Finds from this site seen in Hove and Lewes Museum. (5)
In June 1965 in advance of the building of the Methodist Church in Manor Hall Road, a limited excavation was carried out on behalf of the MPBW, when post holes were found in association with pottery thought to be IA. On the evidence of the small quantity of pottery found a date of c AD 70-80 would seem reasonable for the earliest Roman occupation of the site. The most recent plan has been lodged with the MPBW. (6-7)
Site is now fully developed. No visible remains of the villa. (8)
Small excavation in 1981 prior to building work. The area proved to have been severely disturbed in modern times. Finds included worked flints, pot sherds (mainly first and second centuries AD), pieces of tile, a tessera, fragments of bronze and oyster shells. (9-10)
Additional references. (11-13)
Full report on the 1965 and 1981 excavations. (14)
WS 91 Listed as the site of a Roman villa combining corridor and courtyard types. It was occupied from cAD 100 to AD 350 and it is suggested (a) that the villa was a copy of the period 2 palace at Fishbourne. (15)
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