Great Witcombe Roman Villa, Gloucestershire

The Roman villa at Great Witcombe, Gloucestershire was discovered in 1818, and has subsequently been excavated several times, most recently by Ernest Greenfield (1960-73) whose work forms the basis of this book. By the later 3rd and 4th centuries, the villa had developed into a sumptuous country house of a courtyard plan, which included several mosaic pavements, two suites of baths and a prominent colonnaded central gallery and portico. It is suggested here that the villa belonged to the descendants of a veteran, settled on an estate established here at the foundation of the colonia at Gloucester.