record 5717/1 - Rowler Farm Roman Villa

The buried remains of a rectangular building measuring about 30m by 8m and aligned approximately north-south were first identified in 1991 when a mosaic floor was partly excavated. The mosaic lies near the centre of the building and features a circular panel containing a representation of the Greek hero Bellerophon slaying the monster Chimaera.

{1} Metal detectorist found mosaic on 9/10/1991. Site subject to amateur investigation revealing part of a mosaic depicting Bellerephon slaying the chimera, approx 5m square with damaged north side. Mosaic covered again after being dated to approx. 360AD. To the west were remains of what may be a collapsed hypocaust and to the east besides existing stream may be a possible bathhouse.
Finds made in vicinity of mosaic over many years include roof tiles, box tiles, painted wall plaster, pot sherds and glass. An extensive limestone plus pot and tile scatter extends in all directions from the mosaic.

{10} The buried remains of a rectangular building measuring about 30m by 8m and aligned approximately north-south. This building was first identified in 1991 when a mosaic floor was partly excavated. The mosaic lies near the centre of the building and features a circular panel containing a representation of the Greek hero Bellerophon slaying the monster Chimaera. Bellerophon is depicted mounted on a white horse, Pegasus, and with his right arm thrusts a spear into the mouth of the monster which has a lion's head, a goat's body and a dragon's tail. The circular panel is set in an octagon at the centre of two overlapping squares which are bordered by braided ornament; together they form an eight- pointed star which is set within a wider geometrical framework. The mosaic, which is constructed of tesserae cut from limestone and sandstone, has been dated to the later 4th century. During re-excavation and cleaning of the mosaic in 1993 archaeological evidence for the destruction of the building, characterised by a layer of burnt mortar, wood, tile and painted plaster overlying the floor, was found. Impressions of the stone walls and reed ceiling of the room were found on the plaster fragments. The building in which the mosaic lies is thought to be a villa of simple rectangular type including a range of rooms without a corridor. Fragments of box-flue tiles and other material indicate the presence of a hypocaust. Significant quantities of 2nd to 4th century pottery and tile have been recovered during systematic fieldwalking in the area of the villa, and to the south and west where stone scatters and traces of activity identified by geophysical survey are believed to include features associated with the villa such as building and garden remains. The course of a trackway has been identified running southwards from the villa through these features.

<1> CADMAN G.E., 1991, Rowlers Farm Roman Villa, Croughton, (unchecked) (SMR Report Form). SNN50260.

<2> Dawson M., 2003, Post Field Work Assessment: Bellerophon Mosaic and Croughton Roman Settlement, (unchecked) (Report). SNN103451.

<3> Dawson M., 2003, Bellerophon Mosaic at Rowler Manor Farm Estate, Part 2 The Updated Project Design, (unchecked) (Report). SNN103450.

<4> Dawson M., 2001, The Roman Mosaic At Rowler Manor Estate, Croughton, Northamptonshire. Part 1 Assessment Of The Poten, (unchecked) (Report). SNN101608.

<5> Dix B., 1992, Recent Work in Northamptonshire Archaeology (Article). SNN104441.

<6> Photos of Croughton Villa, unchecked (Photographs). SNN108796.

<7> Dawson, M., 2008, Excavation of the Roman Villa and Mosaic at Rowler Manor, Croughton (Article). SNN106433.

<8> Dawson, M. and Neal, D., 2010, New fragments and further excavation of the Bellerophon Mosaic from Croughton (Note). SNN111799.

<9> Edwards, C, 2002, Condition Survey Report on the Bellerophon Mosaic, Rowler Manor Estate, Croughton, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN111902.

<10> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 1986, DOE Scheduled Ancient Monuments: Northamptonshire (Parts 5-8) (Schedule). SNN104787.

<11> Payne, A., 2012, Croughton, Northamptonshire: Final report on geophysical surveys, October 1992, January 1993 and September 1994 (Report). SNN111421.

Record last edited

May 14 2024 3:14PM