Chedworth Roman Villa

Chedworth Roman Villa
Chedworth Roman Villa showing the north-wing (foreground), and the west-wing cover building (background)
Location within Gloucestershire
General information
Location	Chedworth grid reference SP053135
Country	United Kingdom
Coordinates	51°49′12″N 1°55′28″W / 51.8201°N 1.9245°W / 51.8201; -1.9245Coordinates: 51°49′12″N 1°55′28″W / 51.8201°N 1.9245°W / 51.8201; -1.9245
Construction started	c. 120 AD
Demolished	c. 410 AD

The Chedworth Roman Villa is a Roman villa located at Chedworth, Gloucestershire, England. It is one of the largest Roman villas in Britain. The villa was built in phases from the early 2nd century to the 4th century, with the 4th century construction transforming the building into an elite dwelling arranged around three sides of a courtyard. The 4th century building included a heated and furnished west wing containing a dining-room (triclinium) with a fine mosaic floor, as well as two separate bathing suites – one for damp-heat and one for dry-heat. The villa was discovered in 1864, and it was excavated and put on display soon afterwards. It was acquired in 1924 by the National Trust who have conducted a long-term conservation programme, with new on-site facilities and cover-buildings. It is debated amongst historians whether Chedworth was indeed a farm or in fact a religious hostel, as evidence has been found in support of both arguments. However most currently believe that Chedworth was a private farmstead, inhabited by a very wealthy Romano-Briton.

The villa stands in a sheltered, but 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 (13 km) north of the important town of Corinium Dobunnorum (Cirencester). It was one of about fifty villas in the Cotswolds, and one of nine in just a 5 mile (8 km) radius. The villa was located next to a natural spring in the north west corner of the complex, which was the villa's main source of water, and which was where the inhabitants built an apsidal shrine to the water-nymphs (nymphaeum).

The villa was founded about 120 AD, and began as three separate and modest groups of buildings. During this earliest phase (Phase I) the villa consisted of separate buildings to the west and south with a detached bath house to the north. In the early 3rd century (Phase II) the west and south wings were rebuilt following a fire, and the north bath-suite was enlarged with extra rooms added to its eastern side.