Roman villa at South House Farm, Little Hallingbury (EHER 3589)

Excavations uncovered the site of a Roman villa dating from about 80 AD to the late 4th century AD and a possible bath house.

In 1950 the OS found building materials, roof tile, and flue tiles in the south-west corner of a large field and the north west corner of the field next to the south, near the River Stort. Further investigation of the villa and exploratory excavations in 1952-3 gave a provisional date of about 80 AD to 4th century AD. Dr J. Morris directed the excavations. But no longer visible on the ground. <1> They uncovered cob walls heavily plastered and painted red, yellow, green and white, some moulded plaster relief, flint walls, clay floors, pink floor, courtyard and/or road. <2> The villa site appeared as a flat raised area standing out conspicuously. <3> Coins recorded by metal detector users from the site of Hallingbury Roman villa (apparently given to farmer as finders already had a number in their collection). <4> The coins had a date range of 268-348 AD. There was 10 in all. 1 of Claudius II, 2 of Victorinus, 1 of Tetricus I, 1 of Crispus, 1 of Constantine II, 1 of Helena, 1 of Constans, 1 possibly of Magentius. <5> Field walking of proposed extension to gravel pit at Gaston Green produced: 2 sherds greyware (1 sherd slip decorated) 2 sherds of red ware including 1 rim 4 sherds of floor tile 1 sherd of hypocaust tile with herringbone decoration 1 piece of opus signinum 25 sherds of tile (not necessarily Roman). Fieldwalking conditions were difficult as the fields were grassed over and most of the finds came from backfilled test holes dug by the gravel company. Most material came from north west corner of field nearest to road. A trench had been cut into the ditch adjacent to the villa site, revealing a cobbled layer. <6> <7> A strip of top soil approximately 8-10 metres in width had been stripped for the laying of a water pipeline by the Lee Valley Water Company. This soil stripping uncovered the patchy remains of a two floor levels. There were many tessera found in a mole drain. Quantities of roman tile were found to the south and the west of the pipe trench. <8> Sketch plan of 1952 trench position. <9> NRHE data transfer: Listed as the site of a Roman villa. <10> March 1950. Field survey. Fragments of tegulae, imbrices, box-flue tiles and large flint nodules scattered on the surface of the two fields within the area shown on the Field Sheet and on Record Sheet, suggest the presence of a villa. A trial trench was dug at a point 'A' in the north field (shown on Field Sheet and Record Sheet) where a slight change in the colour of the vegetation was noticed. From the surface to a depth of approximately 1.0m, when natural gravel was uncovered, large fragments of tegulae, imbrices, box-flue tiles with stamped and combed designs, pink-lime mortar, painted red, purple and one piece of yellow and green wall plaster, animal bones, charcoal and inch-square red brick tesserae together with numerous sherds of pottery and a thin strip of metal, approximately 1 1/2" long by 1/2" wide, perforated in three places with a punch-dot impression along the edges, were found but no traces of a structure were located. The site is situated on very low lying ground on the bottom of the valley of the River Stort. The surface scatter of building material is confined to a fairly small area and may indicate that there has been little disturbance of the site by cultivation; the south field is pasture and in living memory has not been cultivated. There are numerous strong springs within the vicinity of the site. A stone coffin was found about 1942 in the gravel pit east of the site and may be associated with this Roman building. <11> South House Farm. Roman villa evidenced by oblong patch of level ground with large flints, roof tiles, etc scattered over it. Visited November 1950. <12> 1952-1953. Excavation. Exploratory excavations 1952-3 by J. Holmes gave provisional dating of the occupation from 80 AD to the late 4th century. <13> Excavations have revealed so far (July 1953) timber and cob wall, with red mortar floor; wall heavily plastered and painted in red, yellow, green and white with rectangular panels and circular insets with painted designs - also some plaster moulded in relief. Adjoining building with flint walls may be bath house. A large villa; at least three periods represented. <14> Excavation has shown a corridor with red mortar floor and a thick wall, plastered and painted in panels over a framework of heavy timbers and a room beyond with a chalky floor and flint walls, mostly ruined. This was dated to the 4th cent but an earlier floor of green clay and a narrow flint wall, outside which was a roadway or yard, was visible in sections in the trenches. <15> Potsherds from the trial trench have been classified by Major Brinson as being mainly 3rd to 4th century AD. <16> June 1973. Field survey. No trace of the villa remains in an area of rough pasture. Sketch plan by <12> indicates the villa was centred at TL 4922 1638. No further excavations (post 1953) have been made by J. Holmes. <15> represents the latest information on the site. Site surveyed at 1:2500. <17> See also: <18>