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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