Summary : The site of a Roman villa at Stainby was discovered by workmen in 1815 while quarrying stone for repairs to a road. They found traces of walls, "a bath", a tessellated pavement, a hypocaust, plus tiles and coins. Both Scott and Whitwell refer to air photograph evidence for the villa, though neither give a source. Air photographs examined by RCHME in 1996 contained no indications of the villa. |
More information : "In the early part of March last ... in forming a road in the parish of Stainby, in Lincolnshire (heretofore the old post road between Post Witham and Grantham into the North), the remains of a Roman villa have been discovered; its situation is on a declivity to the south-east, near the course of the river Witham, and about a mile west of the Roman road to Lincoln. Many loads of good shaped stones have been taken from the walls under-ground; a mosaic pavement of rather rude workmanship has been discovered; also a bath; there is the appearance of extensive premises .... Roman tiles, strong cement and several Roman coins, have been found." (1) "The Steanby villa was discovered in 1815 by some labourers employed in getting stone to repair the old post road; they struck upon walls ... part of a Roman villa ... also the remains of a hypocaust and a passage paved with tesserae." (2) The church of Colsterworth is "... about half a mile north of the site of a Roman villa, where there is, or was, a tesselated pavement in a grass field now called Stanby Cow-pasture ..." (3) Area SK 921222 A single field now divided up into five fields stretching from Stainby Warren to the old post road, which is marked on the 1st edition of the OS 1" map, is the only place that fits the descriptions given in the above authorities. (4)
An examination of all available air photographs revealed no evidence of the Roman villa described by the previous authorities. (5) |