Knowledge

Bignor Roman Villa

Source 📝

31: 47: 199: 207: 215: 951: 802: 54: 352:. He had already published a series of engravings of the villa with the help of Richard Smirke and Charles Stothard. These engravings together with his three papers and his and his brother's correspondence with Hawkins form the only record of the original excavations. Excavations ceased in 1819 after Samuel Lysons' death. 299:
farmstead on the site by the end of the 1st century is indicated by finds, but the earliest structural remains are of a simple timber farm structure dating to around 190 AD. A four-roomed stone building was built in the middle of the 3rd century AD, and this was extended between c.240 and 290 AD by
311:
This building became the western wing when north and south wings were added at the turn of the fourth century. In its final form, the villa consisted of some sixty-five rooms surrounding a courtyard, with a number of outlying farm buildings. The latest phase of building involved additions to the
363:
re-excavated parts of the villa in the first attempt to determine its chronology. Since then Thomas Tupper, the direct descendant of the discoverer, whose family still owns the site, has undertaken further excavations: with
347:
By 1815 the remains of a substantial villa had been uncovered and protective buildings had been erected over several of the mosaics. In 1818 Samuel Lysons read his third and final paper on the villa to the
315:
The later history of the villa is not well known, but it appears to have gradually declined in status, rather than suffering a catastrophic fate, such as the fire that destroyed most of Fishbourne Palace.
1311: 849: 1281: 1301: 1306: 586: 1296: 553: 461: 125: 100: 1286: 842: 477: 245:
floors, which are some of the most complete and intricate in the country. It is managed by the Bignor Roman Villa Charitable Trust, a
403: 1316: 411: 46: 835: 579: 324:
George Tupper, a farmer, discovered the villa in 1811 when his plough hit a large stone. It was almost entirely excavated by
1271: 992: 1159: 940: 572: 349: 287:; this fact and its proximity to Roman Chichester meant that the owners were able to become wealthy from farming. 1276: 1266: 813: 431: 376:
The rooms on display today are mostly located at the west end of the north wing, including a summer and winter (
1164: 387:
The Greek-key-patterned northern corridor extends for some 79 ft (24m) making it the longest in Britain.
817: 96: 1291: 1179: 118: 681: 666: 1230: 1199: 900: 716: 686: 458: 1194: 766: 262: 910: 731: 706: 626: 325: 1149: 920: 895: 801: 786: 741: 671: 641: 276: 246: 30: 1321: 1133: 1047: 1027: 930: 925: 905: 771: 751: 746: 711: 676: 651: 312:
north wing between c.300 and 350 AD, and it is here that most of the fine mosaics are located.
595: 935: 880: 791: 761: 656: 646: 558: 1103: 1032: 1022: 967: 781: 691: 611: 384:
to be found in Great Britain, both in terms of preservation, artistic merit and detailing.
380:) dining room. The bathhouse is to the southeast. The rooms contain some of the best Roman 271: 1245: 8: 1007: 915: 885: 875: 756: 736: 726: 701: 661: 636: 631: 616: 280: 1240: 1225: 1215: 1154: 1067: 1057: 987: 776: 721: 696: 606: 507: 341: 198: 1220: 1189: 1174: 1118: 1113: 1098: 1042: 890: 499: 1169: 1037: 465: 344:, with nearly a thousand entries in the visitors' book in the first nine months. 827: 1123: 1077: 360: 296: 206: 111: 1260: 1184: 1062: 977: 365: 356: 337: 140: 127: 1012: 997: 214: 564: 1108: 329: 258: 238: 226: 78: 1235: 1128: 1082: 406:
The Bignor Roman Villa Charitable Trust, registered charity no. 1158379
266: 511: 1072: 1052: 548: 377: 333: 301: 1017: 1002: 503: 982: 305: 283:
which provided better conditions for agriculture than the nearby
234: 92: 972: 381: 242: 230: 88: 284: 531:
Bignor: Trustees of Bignor Roman Villa (undated, about 1986)
355:
No further work was undertaken on the site until 1925 when
229:
which has been excavated and put on public display on the
490:
Frere, Sheppard; et al. (1982). "The Bignor Villa".
498:. Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies: 135–195. 402: 340:. Opened to the public in 1814, it rapidly became a 857: 1258: 279:. It is on the south-facing slope of a ridge of 1312:5th-century disestablishments in Roman Britain 368:in the 1970s, and David Rudling in the 1980s. 1282:Museums of ancient Rome in the United Kingdom 843: 580: 536:ISYP: An Introduction to Bignor Roman Villa 427: 425: 423: 421: 319: 1302:3rd-century establishments in Roman Britain 594: 359:did some minor work. Between 1956 and 1962 1307:400s disestablishments in the Roman Empire 850: 836: 587: 573: 454: 452: 450: 448: 446: 444: 442: 440: 53: 471: 418: 412:Charity Commission for England and Wales 290: 257:The villa is situated just north of the 241:. It is well known for its high quality 213: 205: 197: 1297:200s establishments in the Roman Empire 437: 1259: 308:that faced east towards Stane Street. 1287:Historic house museums in West Sussex 831: 568: 489: 35:Bignor Roman Villa, museum buildings 16:Ancient site in West Sussex, England 300:the addition of a few new rooms, a 13: 949: 14: 1333: 1160:Caerleon Roman Fortress and Baths 554:The Heritage Trail (Bignor Villa) 542: 478:Bignor Roman Villa: The Discovery 459:The Heritage Trail (Bignor Villa) 275:) and the nearby and much larger 800: 265:, about nine miles northeast of 52: 45: 29: 1317:1811 archaeological discoveries 814:List of Roman villas in England 483: 396: 1: 858:Roman visitor sites in the UK 818:List of Roman villas in Wales 529:Bignor Roman Villa Guide Book 521: 186: 173: 160: 1180:National Roman Legion Museum 7: 1272:Roman villas in West Sussex 252: 61:Location within West Sussex 10: 1338: 1231:Chester Roman Amphitheatre 1195:Trimontium Trust (Melrose) 1155:Carvoran Roman Army Museum 1043:Carvoran Roman Army Museum 811: 371: 1208: 1142: 1091: 960: 947: 863: 809: 798: 602: 320:Discovery and excavations 182: 169: 156: 117: 107: 84: 74: 69: 40: 28: 23: 1165:Colchester Castle Museum 390: 1150:Canterbury Roman Museum 1048:Over Burrow (Lancaster) 596:Villas in Roman Britain 468:, retrieved 21 May 2012 277:Fishbourne Roman Palace 1277:Museums in West Sussex 1267:History of West Sussex 954: 350:Society of Antiquaries 219: 211: 203: 1236:Jewry Wall, Leicester 1190:Senhouse Roman Museum 1099:Aldborough Roman Site 953: 464:July 7, 2012, at the 291:History and structure 227:Roman courtyard villa 217: 209: 201: 1226:Caerleon Roman Baths 1221:Benwell Roman temple 1023:Hardknott Roman Fort 968:Ambleside Roman Fort 961:Forts & military 777:Welwyn (Dicket Mead) 328:who lived at nearby 272:Noviomagus Reginorum 157:Construction started 141:50.92325°N 0.59475°W 79:Romano-British Villa 1292:Chichester District 891:Dover Painted House 295:The existence of a 269:(the Roman city of 137: /  75:Architectural style 70:General information 1241:Welwyn Roman Baths 1058:Portchester Castle 955: 559:Bignor Roman Villa 534:Trent, V. (2013). 432:Bignor Roman Villa 342:tourist attraction 247:registered charity 223:Bignor Roman Villa 220: 212: 204: 146:50.92325; -0.59475 24:Bignor Roman Villa 1254: 1253: 1200:Verulamium Museum 1175:Jewry Wall Museum 978:Banks East Turret 825: 824: 782:Welwyn (Lockleys) 538:. Accessed from . 378:underfloor heated 196: 195: 1329: 1246:York Roman Baths 1216:Bath Roman Baths 952: 852: 845: 838: 829: 828: 804: 589: 582: 575: 566: 565: 549:Official website 527:Fred Aldsworth: 516: 515: 487: 481: 475: 469: 456: 435: 429: 416: 415: 400: 210:Gladiator mosaic 191: 188: 178: 175: 165: 162: 152: 151: 149: 148: 147: 142: 138: 135: 134: 133: 130: 103: 56: 55: 49: 33: 21: 20: 1337: 1336: 1332: 1331: 1330: 1328: 1327: 1326: 1257: 1256: 1255: 1250: 1204: 1170:Corinium Museum 1138: 1087: 1053:Pevensey Castle 956: 950: 945: 859: 856: 826: 821: 820: 805: 796: 682:Gadebridge Park 667:Dalton Parlours 598: 593: 561:, Roman Britain 545: 524: 519: 488: 484: 476: 472: 466:Wayback Machine 457: 438: 434:, 16 March 2005 430: 419: 401: 397: 393: 374: 322: 293: 255: 189: 176: 163: 145: 143: 139: 136: 131: 128: 126: 124: 123: 99: 95: 65: 64: 63: 62: 59: 58: 57: 36: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1335: 1325: 1324: 1319: 1314: 1309: 1304: 1299: 1294: 1289: 1284: 1279: 1274: 1269: 1252: 1251: 1249: 1248: 1243: 1238: 1233: 1228: 1223: 1218: 1212: 1210: 1206: 1205: 1203: 1202: 1197: 1192: 1187: 1182: 1177: 1172: 1167: 1162: 1157: 1152: 1146: 1144: 1140: 1139: 1137: 1136: 1131: 1126: 1124:Venta Icenorum 1121: 1116: 1111: 1106: 1101: 1095: 1093: 1089: 1088: 1086: 1085: 1080: 1078:Venta Icenorum 1075: 1070: 1065: 1060: 1055: 1050: 1045: 1040: 1035: 1030: 1025: 1020: 1015: 1010: 1005: 1000: 995: 990: 985: 980: 975: 970: 964: 962: 958: 957: 948: 946: 944: 943: 938: 933: 928: 923: 918: 913: 908: 903: 901:Great Witcombe 898: 893: 888: 883: 878: 873: 867: 865: 861: 860: 855: 854: 847: 840: 832: 823: 822: 810: 807: 806: 799: 797: 795: 794: 789: 784: 779: 774: 769: 764: 759: 754: 749: 744: 739: 734: 729: 724: 719: 717:Llantwit Major 714: 709: 704: 699: 694: 689: 687:Great Witcombe 684: 679: 674: 669: 664: 659: 654: 649: 644: 639: 634: 629: 624: 619: 614: 609: 603: 600: 599: 592: 591: 584: 577: 569: 563: 562: 556: 551: 544: 543:External links 541: 540: 539: 532: 523: 520: 518: 517: 504:10.2307/526493 482: 470: 436: 417: 394: 392: 389: 373: 370: 361:Sheppard Frere 321: 318: 297:Romano-British 292: 289: 254: 251: 233:estate in the 194: 193: 184: 180: 179: 171: 167: 166: 158: 154: 153: 121: 115: 114: 112:United Kingdom 109: 105: 104: 97:grid reference 86: 82: 81: 76: 72: 71: 67: 66: 60: 51: 50: 44: 43: 42: 41: 38: 37: 34: 26: 25: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1334: 1323: 1322:Villa rustica 1320: 1318: 1315: 1313: 1310: 1308: 1305: 1303: 1300: 1298: 1295: 1293: 1290: 1288: 1285: 1283: 1280: 1278: 1275: 1273: 1270: 1268: 1265: 1264: 1262: 1247: 1244: 1242: 1239: 1237: 1234: 1232: 1229: 1227: 1224: 1222: 1219: 1217: 1214: 1213: 1211: 1207: 1201: 1198: 1196: 1193: 1191: 1188: 1186: 1183: 1181: 1178: 1176: 1173: 1171: 1168: 1166: 1163: 1161: 1158: 1156: 1153: 1151: 1148: 1147: 1145: 1141: 1135: 1132: 1130: 1127: 1125: 1122: 1120: 1117: 1115: 1112: 1110: 1107: 1105: 1102: 1100: 1097: 1096: 1094: 1090: 1084: 1081: 1079: 1076: 1074: 1071: 1069: 1066: 1064: 1061: 1059: 1056: 1054: 1051: 1049: 1046: 1044: 1041: 1039: 1036: 1034: 1031: 1029: 1026: 1024: 1021: 1019: 1016: 1014: 1011: 1009: 1006: 1004: 1001: 999: 996: 994: 991: 989: 986: 984: 981: 979: 976: 974: 971: 969: 966: 965: 963: 959: 942: 939: 937: 934: 932: 929: 927: 924: 922: 919: 917: 914: 912: 909: 907: 904: 902: 899: 897: 894: 892: 889: 887: 884: 882: 879: 877: 874: 872: 869: 868: 866: 862: 853: 848: 846: 841: 839: 834: 833: 830: 819: 815: 808: 803: 793: 790: 788: 785: 783: 780: 778: 775: 773: 770: 768: 767:Spoonley Wood 765: 763: 760: 758: 755: 753: 750: 748: 745: 743: 740: 738: 735: 733: 730: 728: 725: 723: 720: 718: 715: 713: 710: 708: 705: 703: 700: 698: 695: 693: 690: 688: 685: 683: 680: 678: 675: 673: 670: 668: 665: 663: 660: 658: 655: 653: 650: 648: 645: 643: 640: 638: 635: 633: 630: 628: 625: 623: 620: 618: 615: 613: 610: 608: 605: 604: 601: 597: 590: 585: 583: 578: 576: 571: 570: 567: 560: 557: 555: 552: 550: 547: 546: 537: 533: 530: 526: 525: 513: 509: 505: 501: 497: 493: 486: 480:, 30 May 2009 479: 474: 467: 463: 460: 455: 453: 451: 449: 447: 445: 443: 441: 433: 428: 426: 424: 422: 413: 409: 407: 399: 395: 388: 385: 383: 379: 369: 367: 366:Margaret Rule 362: 358: 357:S. E. Winbolt 353: 351: 345: 343: 339: 338:Samuel Lysons 335: 331: 327: 317: 313: 309: 307: 303: 298: 288: 286: 282: 278: 274: 273: 268: 264: 260: 250: 248: 244: 240: 236: 232: 228: 224: 216: 208: 202:Medusa mosaic 200: 190: 400 AD 185: 181: 177: 350 AD 172: 168: 164: 190 AD 159: 155: 150: 122: 120: 116: 113: 110: 106: 102: 98: 94: 90: 87: 83: 80: 77: 73: 68: 48: 39: 32: 27: 22: 19: 1013:Dover Castle 993:Burgh Castle 911:Lullingstone 870: 732:Lullingstone 707:Kings Weston 627:Borough Hill 621: 535: 528: 495: 491: 485: 473: 405: 398: 386: 375: 354: 346: 326:John Hawkins 323: 314: 310: 294: 270: 263:Stane Street 256: 222: 221: 18: 1209:Other sites 1068:Richborough 1028:Housesteads 921:North Leigh 787:Woodchester 742:North Leigh 642:Brantingham 330:Bignor Park 259:South Downs 239:West Sussex 225:is a large 192:(abandoned) 144: / 119:Coordinates 1261:Categories 1185:Ribchester 1119:Silchester 1109:Colchester 1104:Chichester 1083:Vindolanda 1063:Ribchester 988:Birdoswald 983:Binchester 931:Rockbourne 926:Piddington 906:Littlecote 896:Fishbourne 812:See also: 772:Totternhoe 752:Rockbourne 747:Piddington 712:Littlecote 677:Folkestone 672:Fishbourne 652:Carsington 522:References 332:, and the 267:Chichester 237:county of 129:50°55′24″N 1129:St Albans 1114:Corbridge 1073:Segedunum 1033:Lancaster 1008:Derventio 936:Sparsholt 881:Chedworth 792:Winterton 762:Sparsholt 657:Chedworth 647:Bucknowle 492:Britannia 334:antiquary 302:hypocaust 281:greensand 261:close to 218:Hypocaust 170:Completed 132:0°35′41″W 1134:Wroxeter 1018:Eboracum 1003:Chesters 998:Caerleon 941:Wroxeter 692:Horkstow 612:Bancroft 462:Archived 304:, and a 253:Location 101:SU988147 85:Location 1143:Museums 916:Newport 886:Crofton 876:Brading 757:Rudston 737:Newport 727:Low Ham 702:Rutland 662:Crofton 637:Brading 632:Boxmoor 617:Beadlam 382:mosaics 372:Mosaics 306:portico 235:English 108:Country 93:England 973:Arbeia 871:Bignor 864:Villas 697:Keston 622:Bignor 607:Aiskew 512:526493 510:  243:mosaic 231:Bignor 183:Closed 89:Bignor 1092:Towns 722:Lopen 508:JSTOR 391:Notes 285:chalk 1038:Lunt 816:and 500:doi 1263:: 506:. 496:13 494:. 439:^ 420:^ 410:. 336:, 249:. 187:c. 174:c. 161:c. 91:, 851:e 844:t 837:v 588:e 581:t 574:v 514:. 502:: 414:. 408:" 404:"

Index


Bignor Roman Villa is located in West Sussex
Romano-British Villa
Bignor
England
grid reference
SU988147
United Kingdom
Coordinates
50°55′24″N 0°35′41″W / 50.92325°N 0.59475°W / 50.92325; -0.59475



Roman courtyard villa
Bignor
English
West Sussex
mosaic
registered charity
South Downs
Stane Street
Chichester
Noviomagus Reginorum
Fishbourne Roman Palace
greensand
chalk
Romano-British
hypocaust
portico
John Hawkins

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.