Chedworth Roman Villa - discovered while ferreting around
Chedworth Villa, in the Cotswolds, is one of the largest, most complete Roman villas in the UK. It was discovered in 1864 by Thomas Margetts, a gamekeeper who was digging for a ferret, and instead found fragments of mosaic.
Chedworth Roman Villa was home to some of the richest people in the country during its heyday in the 4th century.
The villa was built in a sheltered, shady, position overlooking the River Coln in the Cotswold Hills in Gloucestershire. It was located just off the Roman road known as the Fosse Way, and 8 miles north of Cirencester - which was the important administrative centre of Corinium Dobunnorum in the Roman period. Chedworth was one of about fifty villas in the Cotswolds, and one of nine within just a 5 mile radius.
Visitors to Chedworth can see mosaics, bathhouses, latrines and underfloor heating. It is possible to get up close to the mosaics, some of which were only excavated in 2015, on elevated walkways.
The villa is owned and managed by the National Trust and the site includes the villa itself, a museum, a café and a gift shop. It is also a good spot for walks through the beautiful countryside around the villa.
Further reading
Links to external websites are not maintained by Bite Sized Britain. They are provided to give users access to additional information. Bite Sized Britain is not responsible for the content of these external websites.