Castle Hill Roman Villa |
| Hob Uid: 388170 | |
Location :
Suffolk
Ipswich
Non Civil Parish
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| Grid Ref : TM1474046600 |
| Summary : Site of a Roman villa at Castle Hill, Whitton, described as the largest and most sophisticated villa complex known in Suffolk. Part of a decorated mosaic was found in 1854 during construction of a farmhouse, and was removed to Ipswich Museum. A further secion of tessellated floor was found in 1897 during planting of an orchard. Excavations occurred in 1929-32, 1946-50 and 1988-9, suggesting the presence of a large villa complex comprising several buildings, including a bath house. The buildings, both timber and stone, and some of which show several phases of rebuilding, span the 1st to the 4th centuries AD. There is little evidence for activity between the Roman period and the 19th century other than a few Saxon potsherds. Pre-Roman activity encountered during excavations includes a pit, some pottery and worked flints of Neolithic date. |
More information : (TM 14744660) Roman Villa (NR) Site of (NAT). (1)
Part of a decorated, tessellated pavement of a Roman Villa was
found at Castle Hill during the construction of the farmhouse
in 1854. It was preserved in Ipswich Museum. Another section of
floor of the Villa consisting of red and white tesserae was
found in 1897 during planting of an orchard. These two finds
prompted Moir and Maynard to excavate the site in 1932.
Sectioning of the site revealed two Roman occupation levels
not long separated in time. Samian ware, 1st century cordon
vase, bronze rings and bracelets, 2nd and 3rd century glass
beads, keys, knives, spur, spatula, bone hair pins, bodkins,
an oculist stamp and coins dating from 119AD-378AD were found
during the excavation dating the Villa 1st-4th century AD. For
details of villa foundations see diagram. (2)
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