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Chedworth Roman Villa, Gloucestershire

Water Shrine at Chedworth Roman Villa

As far as archeologists can tell the building that would become the monumental Chedworth Roman Villa started off as a small Roman house in the second century. There was a natural spring here, which provided a convenient water supply, and was a traditional site of worship. It was all quite humble and unremarkable. But then during the fourth century Roman Britain began to change. For some reason there was a distinct shift in society. According to literature produced at the Chedworth site, archeological evidence suggests that the fourth century saw the building of a few very large villas, while renewal of town buildings seemed to decline. Perhaps a weakening of central government allowed concentration of wealth and power in fewer hands. In a sense perhaps we see a growing "decadence" at Chedworth. Certainly it was not long after Chedworth reached the peak of its luxury that Roman Britain began to collapse. But while it lasted Chedworth represented the peak of Roman sophistication. The family who lived here with their staff and slaves, numbering over one hundred people, were one of the richest in fourth century Britain. Their villa had over fifty rooms laid out in long rows or wings, connected by a colonnaded corridor around an open central space. There are only ten other sites known in Britain which have so many rooms. All rooms except kitchens and storerooms were heated from below by an under floor heating system. Fine mosaic floors were extensive, and there are remains of expensive imported pottery of the type used to transport wine and olive oil. There were two bath houses with hot and cold baths, and steam rooms. It is clear that the villa was built to impress. Visitors approached from the east up the hill by a track from the river Colne. Most of the building would stand over an approaching visitor. In this sense Chedworth was built to announce social, and probably political status. It is probable that the family were local rulers based in the nearby regional centre of Corinium, today's Cirencester.

 

Remains of colonnaded corridor

But disaster lay in store for Roman Britain. The social changes which created Chedworth may have something to do with its eventual demise. The empire as a whole was losing the certainties on which it had rested. The emperor cult demanded that while local gods were permitted, no other gods could be seen as challenging the emperors. Around 300AD Christianity was becoming increasingly popular, and as Christians believed in a single god their belief threatened the emperor cult. Roman emperors did not learn the lessons of later European rulers, who got round the problem of clearly not being gods by claiming that they were appointed by God. The Roman Emperors still wanted to be actual gods, an idea whose time seemed to have passed. At Chedworth several examples of Christian graffiti have been found, inscriptions of the first two letters of Christ's name in Greek, carved in stones that once lay in the water shrine. As at Lullingstone Roman Villa in Kent it seems that Chedworth's occupants were playing safe, worshipping the old and the new gods simultaneously. But whereas Lullingstone had been the house of well-to-do farmers, Chedworth was the palace of rulers, and they had to be more careful about keeping up appearances. Therefore, it might make sense that the marks of Christianity at Chedworth are more subtle than at Lullingstone, small marks on stones, a fragment of a word in an unfamiliar language. One of the main functions of religion is to provide stability, and the confusion of religious symbols in the water shrine suggests a period of doubt and instability reaching subtly into the highest levels of government. Rome withdrew its troops from Britain around 410AD. For a few years life probably carried on at Chedworth as it had before the Roman withdrawal. But it is clear that there was a major economic collapse between 410 - 420AD, and soon after this Chedworth fell into disrepair. Parts may have continued in use as store houses or as simpler dwellings, but eventually, like the rest of Roman Britain, Chedworth Villa collapsed and disappeared into the ground.

Chedworth was excavated initially in 1864 by James Farrer, uncle of the local landowner. Chedworth was one of the first historical sites to be preserved and presented for public display. As of 2010 protective buildings at the site are Victorian, though there are plans for more modern facilities.

 

Opening Times: opening hours for National Trust properties can be complex. Please use contact details below.

Address: Chedworth Roman Villa, Yanworth, Near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL54 3LJ

Directions: Click here for an interactive map centred on Chedworth Roman Villa

Access: There is level access. Grounds are partly accessible, but there are slopes and steps

Contact:

telephone: 01242 890256

fax: 01242 890909

e-mail: chedworth@nationaltrust.org.uk

web site: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-chedworthromanvilla.htm