Kings Weston Roman Villa facts for kids
The site of the villa
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| Established | 1947 |
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| Location | Long Cross, Lawrence Weston, Bristol BS11 0LP, England |
| Type | Roman villa |
| Public transit access | Bus |
Kings Weston Roman Villa is an ancient Roman villa located in Lawrence Weston, a part of north-west Bristol. This important historical site was found in 1947 when new houses were being built in the area. Archaeologists discovered two main buildings, one called the Eastern building and another called the Western building. The Eastern building was fully dug up and studied between 1948 and 1950. Most of the Western building is still hidden beneath Long Cross road. Many items found at the villa are now kept at the Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery.
At Kings Weston Roman Villa, you can explore the only Roman bath suite in Bristol. You can also see two amazing mosaic floors that are over 1,700 years old. These floors were made in the 3rd century AD. Visitors can also learn about how the Romans used central heating in their homes. The villa opens to the public for special events and on certain open days. If you want to visit at other times, you can get a key from Blaise Castle or the Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery.
Discovering the Villa's Past
How the Villa Was Found
The main digging work on the Eastern building was led by George C. Boon and John Clevedon Brown. During their work, they made an interesting discovery. Underneath a mosaic floor, in a special Roman heating system called a hypocaust, they found the remains of a man. He was about 50 years old and around 5 feet tall. Marks on his skull and shoulder suggested he had been injured.
Clues from the Past
Coins found near the man were from the time of Roman emperors Valentinian and Gratian. These coins helped experts guess when the man might have died. It is thought he may have died during a raid in the late 4th or early 5th century AD. Two other sets of human remains were also found nearby.
Archaeologists also uncovered parts of decorated walls and more mosaic floors. They found evidence of underfloor heating and bath areas. Based on the coins and other clues, like a young pig buried in the foundations, it seems the villa was used starting in the 3rd century AD. The way the building was designed, with a large main hall, was common in Roman Britain and Germany. This led archaeologist J. T. Smith to suggest that this type of building was used by a large family group, rather than just a small family.
