Kings Weston Villa

Villa

Kings Weston Villa was discovered during the construction of Lawrence Weston housing estate in 1947; the construction of a road partially destroyed it, but a full excavation was carried out in 1948-50. The villa may have been the centre of an estate associated with farming. Excavation revealed an almost symmetrical plan which developed in several phases. For the most part the walls, built of a variety of local stones, are now little higher than the foundations.At Kings Weston Roman Villa visitors can see the only Roman bath suite in Bristol and two original 3rd-century mosaic floors as well as discover Roman central heating.The remains consist of: the bath suite (rooms I-V); living quarters (rooms VI and VII) both of which had mosiac floors; porticus, porch and gravelled court (rooms VIII and IX) and the east wing (rooms XI, XII and XIII). It was probably built towards the end of the third century AD. The reason for its abandonment is unknown.George C. Boon and John Clevedon Brown conducted the excavations of the Eastern building. In a hypocaust, underlying the mosaic floor of one of the wings, they discovered the body of a man of approximately fifty years of age, 5 feet (1.5 m) tall. Injuries to the skull and shoulder suggested that he had died violently. Coins of the Valentinian and Gratian periods led to a conclusion that the man may have died in a Viking raid in the latter part of the fourth or early fifth century CE.Two other bodies were found in the vicinity. Traces of decorated walls, mosaic floors, underfloor heating and bath suites were discovered. Based on the dating of coins and other evidence such as a foundation burial of a young pig, it was suggested that the site had been occupied since the third century CE. The layout of the building, dominated by a large hall, relatively common in Britain and Germany, led to the hypotheses by archaeologist J. T. Smith that this type of building was used by an extended family group rather than nuclear family.

Visitng Kings Weston Villa

You have to get the key from the nearby Blaise museum, leave a £10 deposit, then drive the the villa. Once you get over the size of the padlock and chain on the doors, it is a pleasant small site , with nice mosaics.

Sites near Kings Weston Villa

Sea Mills (Abona) Roman Port (1 km)
Minor Settlement and Port
Sea Mills (Abona) Roman Building (2 km)
Roman Houses
Gatcombe Roman Settlement (8 km)
Industry and Minor Settlement
Sudbrook Camp (10 km)
Iron Age Hillfort
Caldicot Villa (11 km)
Villa
Portskewett Hill Roman Site (12 km)
Villa
Church Farm Romano-British settlement (13 km)
Settlement
Venta Silurum (Caerwent) Mansio (14 km)
Mansio
Venta Silurum (Caerwent) Temple 2 (14 km)
Temple Or Shrine
Caerwent (Venta Silurum) Roman Town (14 km)
British Civita

Visiting Kings Weston Villa

Hours:

A key to access the site can be collected from Blaise Castle House Museum or Bristol Museum & Art Gallery during opening hours. £10 deposit.

Price:

Free

Address: Kings Weston Roman Villa Long Cross Lawrence Weston Bristol City of Bristol BS11 0LP England

Official Website