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Mosaic Pavements Uncovered at Box Roman Villa Research by Kate Carless Photos courtesy Kate Carless September 2020 There is a particular reason why the Roman floors of the Box Roman Villa have been preserved. The complex was built in a sheltered position just below a very strong spring, which gushes out of the oolite limestone rock. This has formed a Holocene (period of glacial retreat) terrace of tufa (a type of re-deposited limestone) on which the villa is based. This tufa was used for the foundations of the floors and, as water drains through it so quickly, may have been an important element in the preservation of so many of the pavements (mosaic floors) at Box. The mosaic pavements so far uncovered at Box are very plain and all consist of geometric designs. No less than twenty rooms had tessellated floors. Most rooms had only small fragments of pavements left, but enough was preserved of nine rooms to distinguish their designs. Right: Mosaic pavement uncovered in Room 6 |
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Fylfot patterns (inter-connecting crosses in a swastika shape) and meanders predominate, the patterns made not in the usual black but using a softer, prettier, slatey-blue, fine-grained lias limestone. This colour has been used for outlining the designs and for meanders in all the mosaics that are left at Box, regardless of the period, excepting room 9.
The tesserae range in size from 5/16 inches to 1½ inches and are coloured white, cream, dark grey, chocolate, red, yellow (sparingly used), light grey, pink, buff, blue/grey and black. No glass tesserae have been found.
Harold Brakspear who led the 1902-03 excavation of the site described his findings: The tesserae were laid on a thick bed of concrete formed of a rough mortar having a considerable admixture of broken bricks. Where there were no hypocausts, the ground had been made up to a considerable depth with broken stones, gravel, and tufa.[1] The advantage of the tufa in the building is that it is light and very strong and doesn’t burn in the event of a fire.
The tesserae range in size from 5/16 inches to 1½ inches and are coloured white, cream, dark grey, chocolate, red, yellow (sparingly used), light grey, pink, buff, blue/grey and black. No glass tesserae have been found.
Harold Brakspear who led the 1902-03 excavation of the site described his findings: The tesserae were laid on a thick bed of concrete formed of a rough mortar having a considerable admixture of broken bricks. Where there were no hypocausts, the ground had been made up to a considerable depth with broken stones, gravel, and tufa.[1] The advantage of the tufa in the building is that it is light and very strong and doesn’t burn in the event of a fire.
Plan of the rooms excavated in the villa (courtesy Mark Corney, "The Roman Villa at Box"
Mosaics in Rooms of Box Villa
There follows a description of the mosaics and fragments of pavements found on the site, beginning with those found in the first stage of the building and ending with those found in the later fourth century alterations and additions.
Room 1 : An internal courtyard pavement nine feet wide, stretching for eighty feet along the north wing of the villa and twenty-eight feet along the east wing, said by Brakspear All in a tolerably perfect condition.
There follows a description of the mosaics and fragments of pavements found on the site, beginning with those found in the first stage of the building and ending with those found in the later fourth century alterations and additions.
Room 1 : An internal courtyard pavement nine feet wide, stretching for eighty feet along the north wing of the villa and twenty-eight feet along the east wing, said by Brakspear All in a tolerably perfect condition.
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Similar fragments were found in the north-east corner of the medieval mill pond in The Wilderness, which may have been founded on the Roman courtyard.
These large stretches of pavement are in a running pelta (shield-shape) pattern in fine tesserae, six and a half feet wide and edged with three rows of larger blue tesserae with a border of coarse cream cubes. The pelta pattern was widely used in Roman Britain but I have been unable to trace such a large expanse as there is at Box. The pattern was outlined in the usual Box blue/grey lias with the centre in black, a colour not otherwise seen at Box. |
Room 1
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Buttress wall at the rear of room 26
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Close-up of mosaic in room 6
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Room 2 : A large fragment of tesserae found here was sited in the lawn of the Wilderness. It had bands of chocolate, red and cream tesserae.
Room 3 : A fragment of a mosaic was found in the south-west corner of the room, with a 16-inch border of cream edged by a small band of blue/black tesserae.
Room 4 : A fylfot meander in blue on a white ground with coarse cream border. It had fine tesserae in a beautifully-laid, regular pattern. A fragment was lifted by Mr Falconer in 1900 and deposited in the Devizes Museum but now cannot be found, although the rest remains.
Room 5 : Mosaic destroyed, recorded as 10- or 12-feet square of small blue tesserae with two red borders.[2]
Room 6 : This large pavement 17 feet x 14 feet (seen at headline photo) consisted of a complicated geometric design, made up of many motifs in chocolate, red, blue, white and cream tesserae. The central medallion has been lost but outer medallions contained large, stylised flowers. At each end of the pavement was an unusual, leafless scroll with a type of lotus flower reminiscent of a tulip. This room had no hypocaust and had a wide doorway onto the internal courtyard corridor. It was probably the vestibule.
Room 3 : A fragment of a mosaic was found in the south-west corner of the room, with a 16-inch border of cream edged by a small band of blue/black tesserae.
Room 4 : A fylfot meander in blue on a white ground with coarse cream border. It had fine tesserae in a beautifully-laid, regular pattern. A fragment was lifted by Mr Falconer in 1900 and deposited in the Devizes Museum but now cannot be found, although the rest remains.
Room 5 : Mosaic destroyed, recorded as 10- or 12-feet square of small blue tesserae with two red borders.[2]
Room 6 : This large pavement 17 feet x 14 feet (seen at headline photo) consisted of a complicated geometric design, made up of many motifs in chocolate, red, blue, white and cream tesserae. The central medallion has been lost but outer medallions contained large, stylised flowers. At each end of the pavement was an unusual, leafless scroll with a type of lotus flower reminiscent of a tulip. This room had no hypocaust and had a wide doorway onto the internal courtyard corridor. It was probably the vestibule.
Mosaic pavement in room 6
Room 7 : Destroyed. Only a few small tesserae were found in this room, although, the pavement of the room was doubtless of good quality.[3]
Room 8 : Lost. A mosaic pavement measuring 5½ feet x 5½ feet was uncovered here by Mr Hardy in 1900. He made a tracing of it but no indication of its position in the room. It was much damaged by frost but the central, two-ringed knot section in red, white and blue, was lifted and framed by Mr Falconer, who gave the fragments to Devizes Museum, not to be found there now.
From the tracing made by Mr Hardy (below left) it can be seen that this pavement was made with small tesserae.
Room 8 : Lost. A mosaic pavement measuring 5½ feet x 5½ feet was uncovered here by Mr Hardy in 1900. He made a tracing of it but no indication of its position in the room. It was much damaged by frost but the central, two-ringed knot section in red, white and blue, was lifted and framed by Mr Falconer, who gave the fragments to Devizes Museum, not to be found there now.
From the tracing made by Mr Hardy (below left) it can be seen that this pavement was made with small tesserae.
Above: The tracing made by John Hardy of room 8
Seen Right: The passage pavement from room 9 |
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Room 9 : A passage pavement made in coarse tesserae in alternate squares of cream and chocolate. Perhaps the floor was re-laid after the fourth century major alterations and served as a passage to the big apsidal room (Rooms 10, 25 and 26).
Room 15 : A fragment of small red, white and blue tesserae was found along with a cream border.
Room 16 : A fragment of cream tesserae found.
Room 18 : This room was almost certainly the one found by Rev Mullins in 1831: In making some additions to a very old building, the workmen on sinking for a foundation, struck upon the mutilated remains of a tessellated pavement, about two or three feet below the surface of the ground. It is likely that it is still in situ as Rev Mullins covered it carefully with large flagstones.
Room 20 : Eight feet wide and twenty feet long, the mosaic in a meander pattern was described by Brakspear as the floor remained for a considerable area in a perfect condition.
Room 30 : Stored in an old Railway Carriage at Box Station in 1980s. A blue and white pavement of course tesserae which was taken up in 1881 during building operations.
Room 31 : Stored in an old Railway Carriage at Box Station in 1980s. Similar to room 30, less well designed.
Room 15 : A fragment of small red, white and blue tesserae was found along with a cream border.
Room 16 : A fragment of cream tesserae found.
Room 18 : This room was almost certainly the one found by Rev Mullins in 1831: In making some additions to a very old building, the workmen on sinking for a foundation, struck upon the mutilated remains of a tessellated pavement, about two or three feet below the surface of the ground. It is likely that it is still in situ as Rev Mullins covered it carefully with large flagstones.
Room 20 : Eight feet wide and twenty feet long, the mosaic in a meander pattern was described by Brakspear as the floor remained for a considerable area in a perfect condition.
Room 30 : Stored in an old Railway Carriage at Box Station in 1980s. A blue and white pavement of course tesserae which was taken up in 1881 during building operations.
Room 31 : Stored in an old Railway Carriage at Box Station in 1980s. Similar to room 30, less well designed.
George Purser with two different mosaics from Room 30 and 31, one blue and the other black (courtesy Wessex Newspapers)
The plunge bath from room 32 was stored in an old Railway Carriage at Box Station in 1980s
Rooms 30 to 32: Three pavements were discovered in 1855, taken up in 1881, polished and restored and put on show in a Bath shop. Later they toured America as an exhibit with a travelling fair until returned to Bath, left stacked, unwanted, on a wharf for 50 years. In 1955 George Purser bought them off the quay and stored them in the Railway Carriage, Box Station, until he sold them to a Tabernacle Church at Wootton-under-Edge.
Room 34 : Destroyed. Two fragments found.
Room 39 : Brakspear found that most of this part of the site in the west wing had been completely destroyed by the later building of the mill (sometimes called Bollens or Becket’s Mill at the Wilderness). In fact, the medieval mill leat leading to the waterwheel cut through the pavements of Rooms 2 and 39.
Room 34 : Destroyed. Two fragments found.
Room 39 : Brakspear found that most of this part of the site in the west wing had been completely destroyed by the later building of the mill (sometimes called Bollens or Becket’s Mill at the Wilderness). In fact, the medieval mill leat leading to the waterwheel cut through the pavements of Rooms 2 and 39.
A Mystery
Rooms 10, 25 and 26 are some of the grandest in the Box Villa complex, together making up an apsidal room which was incorporated into the building during major alterations in the fourth century. This room measured 24 feet x 32 feet; an exceptional size rarely equalled in other Roman properties in Britain.
It is believed that it was a very grand room with a high vaulted ceiling based on the huge foundations uncovered. It has been claimed that it was essential to the usage of the later villa: its total effect would be to dominate the villa.[4] But no trace of the floor mosaic has been found, which might help us to understand the purpose of the room and the whole villa. In default of this it is speculated that the room was either a triclinium (fourth century grand dining room for the very wealthy) or a public function room, imitating imperial palaces and designed to enforce Roman law and society. It could even have been a mixture of both purposes.
Possible Undiscovered Pavements
It is reputed locally that there are pavements in the north-eastern corner of the churchyard towards the Wilderness property. In Rev Mullins report of 1831 he said, for it is said that several beautiful tessellated pavements had formerly been found in the churchyard and gardens adjoining. In the same report we are told of very many Roman tesserae of different colours and sizes which were seen on the bottom of the millpond when a support of a bridge to the island fell down.
On 18 December 1855 Mrs Cazenove attended the auction of plots of land containing the bath house. She was so impressed by the effective pattern of one of the pavements that she traced the design by pinning together a few bills handed her by the auctioneer. Surprisingly it seems that it was a piece of pelta pattern. As the plots auctioned were not over the courtyard corridor, it is probable that there was more of this design to the east of the bath house. It is said that Roman remains were found under the porch of the Wilderness.
Rooms 10, 25 and 26 are some of the grandest in the Box Villa complex, together making up an apsidal room which was incorporated into the building during major alterations in the fourth century. This room measured 24 feet x 32 feet; an exceptional size rarely equalled in other Roman properties in Britain.
It is believed that it was a very grand room with a high vaulted ceiling based on the huge foundations uncovered. It has been claimed that it was essential to the usage of the later villa: its total effect would be to dominate the villa.[4] But no trace of the floor mosaic has been found, which might help us to understand the purpose of the room and the whole villa. In default of this it is speculated that the room was either a triclinium (fourth century grand dining room for the very wealthy) or a public function room, imitating imperial palaces and designed to enforce Roman law and society. It could even have been a mixture of both purposes.
Possible Undiscovered Pavements
It is reputed locally that there are pavements in the north-eastern corner of the churchyard towards the Wilderness property. In Rev Mullins report of 1831 he said, for it is said that several beautiful tessellated pavements had formerly been found in the churchyard and gardens adjoining. In the same report we are told of very many Roman tesserae of different colours and sizes which were seen on the bottom of the millpond when a support of a bridge to the island fell down.
On 18 December 1855 Mrs Cazenove attended the auction of plots of land containing the bath house. She was so impressed by the effective pattern of one of the pavements that she traced the design by pinning together a few bills handed her by the auctioneer. Surprisingly it seems that it was a piece of pelta pattern. As the plots auctioned were not over the courtyard corridor, it is probable that there was more of this design to the east of the bath house. It is said that Roman remains were found under the porch of the Wilderness.
This is the first of an occasional series about Box's Roman Villa, most based on the research of Kate Carless who lived at The Wilderness for many years. They are intended to complement Mark Corney's book "The Roman Villa at Box" available from Box Archaeological and Natural History Society.
References
[1] Harold Brakspear, Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society, Vol XXXIII, 1904, p.245
[2] Gentleman's Magazine, 1831, as reported by Harold Brakspear, Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society, Vol XXXIII, 1904, p.236
[3] Harold Brakspear, Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society, Vol XXXIII, 1904, p.248
[4] HR Hurst, DL Dartnall and C Fisher, Excavations at Box Roman Villa 1967-68, Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine, Vol.81, 1987, p.29-31
[1] Harold Brakspear, Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society, Vol XXXIII, 1904, p.245
[2] Gentleman's Magazine, 1831, as reported by Harold Brakspear, Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society, Vol XXXIII, 1904, p.236
[3] Harold Brakspear, Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society, Vol XXXIII, 1904, p.248
[4] HR Hurst, DL Dartnall and C Fisher, Excavations at Box Roman Villa 1967-68, Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Magazine, Vol.81, 1987, p.29-31