Information for record number MWA1796:
Site of Roman Villa 1km W of Luddington Church

Summary The site of a Roman villa known from aerial photographs and from finds of Roman pottery collected over many years. It is located 400m north of the church, Weston on Avon.
What Is It?  
Type: Villa
Period: Romano-British (43 AD - 409 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Luddington
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 15 52
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Picture(s) attached

  
Description

  
Source Number  

2 Group of enclosures and linear features show on aerial photographs.
4 Romano British drain found. 1955: Coin found, Constantinian. Romano British pottery found over area of 1.7 to 2 ha - dated to 2nd century AD.
5 Site lies on second terrace gravels with a S aspect. Farming operations some years ago revealed what was assumed to be a field drain of Roman date. Pottery sherds have been picked up for many years, together with roof tegulae, floor and flue tiles. Sherds noted during a visit included large quantities of Severn Valley Ware, 2nd century mortarium, 2nd century Samian, Oxford colour-coated ware, carbon-coated ware and Nene Valley ware. The Site appears to be that of a fairly sophisticated native farmstead.
6 Three Roman coins found on the Site.
7 Evaluation to the south of the cropmark complex interpreted as a villa Site. An apparent trackway feature was identified, as seen on aerial photographs extending across this area. The ditches had been re-cut, showing the use of this trackway over a significant period. No datable features were located.
 
Sources
Source No: 1
Source Type: Aerial Photograph
Title:
Author/originator: J Pickering
Date: 1962
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: SP4489 C/D/E/X
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Luddington Parish Survey
Author/originator: Hooke D
Date: 1976-7
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Roman villa, Luddington
Author/originator: Dyer C
Date: 1961
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Evaluation Report
Title: Manor Farm, Luddington, Warwickshire. Archaeological Evaluation
Author/originator: Cotswold Archaeological Trust
Date: 1998
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Map
Title: 44NE
Author/originator: JMM
Date:
Page Number: 44NE
Volume/Sheet: Annotated Map
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Serial
Title: Archaeological Journal 1964
Author/originator: Webster G and Hobley B
Date: 1964
Page Number: 22
Volume/Sheet: 121
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Verbal communication
Title: R.C. Hingley personal comments
Author/originator: R C Hingley
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
A Roman villa, partially visible as a cropmark to the north of Weston on Avon
Copyright: WA Baker
Date: 1969
Click here for larger image  
 
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
technique Cropmark Cropmarks appear as light and dark marks in growing and ripening crops. These marks relate to differences in the soil below. For example, parched lines of grass may indicate stone walls. Crops that grow over stone features often ripen more quickly and are shorter than the surrounding crop. This is because there is less moisture in the soil where the wall lies.

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technique Aerial Photograph Aerial photographs are taken during an aerial survey, which involves looking at the ground from above. It is usually easier to see cropmarks and earthworks when they are viewed from above. Aerial photographs help archaeologists to record what they see and to identify new sites. There are two kinds of aerial photographs; oblique and vertical. back
period Roman About 43 AD to 409 AD (the 1st century AD to the 5th century AD)

The Roman period comes after the Iron Age and before the Saxon period.

The Roman period in Britain began in 43 AD when a Roman commander called Aulus Plautius invaded the south coast, near Kent. There were a series of skirmishes with the native Britons, who were defeated. In the months that followed, more Roman troops arrived and slowly moved westwards and northwards.
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monument MANOR FARM * A farm on the estate of a manor. back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument FLOOR * A layer of stone, brick or boards, etc, on which people tread. Use broader site type where known. back
monument FEATURE * Areas of indeterminate function. back
monument FLUE * A passageway, duct or pipe use for the conveyance of heat, gasses, smoke or air. back
monument DRAIN * An artificial channel for draining water or carrying it off. back
monument CHURCH * A building used for public Christian worship. Use more specific type where known. back
monument FARMSTEAD * The homestead of a farm consisting of a farmhouse and working farm buildings, with yards, other working areas and usually a garden to the house. back
monument VILLA * A term for a type of house, with varying definitions according to period. Roman villas were high-status and usually associated with a rural estate, whereas Georgian and later period villas were often semi-detached, town houses. back
monument LINEAR FEATURE * A length of straight, curved or angled earthwork or cropmark of uncertain date or function. back
monument ENCLOSURE * An area of land enclosed by a boundary ditch, bank, wall, palisade or other similar barrier. Use specific type where known. back
monument DITCH * A long and narrow hollow or trench dug in the ground, often used to carry water though it may be dry for much of the year. back
monument FIELD DRAIN * An unsocketed earthenware or porous concrete pipe laid end to end unjointed so as to drain the ground. back
monument TRACKWAY * A pathway, not necessarily designed as such, beaten down by the feet of travellers. back
monument TERRACE * A row of houses attached to and adjoining one another and planned and built as one unit. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record