Piddington Roman Villa facts for kids

The Piddington Roman Villa is an amazing archaeological site in Northamptonshire, England. It shows us the remains of a large Roman villa that once stood there. This ancient home is about 6 miles (10 km) south-east of Northampton. It offers a fantastic look into how people lived thousands of years ago.

Piddington Roman Villa: A Glimpse into Ancient Life

Where is Piddington Roman Villa?

The villa was built on top of an even older settlement from the late Iron Age. Today, a museum dedicated to the villa is located nearby. It's housed in an old chapel built in 1851, found in Chapel End on the edge of the village.

A Journey Through Time: The Villa's History

Life Before the Romans: The Iron Age

Archaeologists have been digging at Piddington since 1979. Their work shows that people have lived in this area for about 10,000 years! Long ago, during the Neolithic (around 3500–1500 BC) and Bronze Age (around 1500–600 BC), people used flint tools and arrowheads for hunting. We don't have any houses from that time, though.

Later, in the late Iron Age (around the middle of the 1st century BC), a settlement grew here. People lived in round houses protected by a ditch. They were skilled at making pottery and bronze items. They even traded with people in other parts of Europe!

The Roman Era: From Simple Homes to Grand Villa

After the Romans invaded Britain in 43 AD, soldiers were present in the area. A Roman villa was built later that century. It started as a wooden building, then became a stone one. Over the next 250 years, it grew into a very grand house.

The site was continuously occupied from about 50 BC. First, there were circular buildings. Then, around 70 AD, a "proto-villa" (an early version of a villa) appeared. This was followed by several rectangular stone buildings. Eventually, it became a simple cottage-style villa.

From the 2nd century, the villa became much larger. It was a "winged-corridor" type with a courtyard. There was even a huge stone-lined well from the 2nd century. This well is one of the biggest in Roman Britain and has given us lots of clues about the environment. The villa also had two bath-houses. One might have been for the estate workers, and a smaller one for the villa owners.

Who Lived Here? Roman Owners and Their World

We even know the names of two possible owners from the 2nd century AD! Their names, Tiberius Claudius Verus and Tiberius Claudius Severus, were stamped on some of the villa's tiles. They were probably related. Their names suggest they were Roman citizens, but they were most likely native Britons.

This was when the villa was at its biggest and most impressive. Objects found at the site came from all over the Roman Empire. This shows that Piddington, which might seem like a quiet place today, was once part of a busy trading network.

What Happened After the Romans Left?

Towards the end of the 3rd century, the villa was suddenly abandoned. This happened earlier than many other Romano-British villas. Much of it was even taken apart on purpose. From the beginning of the 4th century, "squatter" families moved in and lived there until at least the end of that century.

There's also evidence of early Anglo-Saxon activity, including burials and a possible dwelling. It's not surprising that the local church, which probably has Anglo-Saxon roots, is close to the villa site.

Uncovering the Past: Excavations at Piddington

The villa was first rediscovered by accident in 1781. Workmen digging for limestone found a complete mosaic. Sadly, people from Northampton came and took pieces of it as "souvenirs."

Serious archaeological digging started in 1959. Since 1979, the Upper Nene Archaeological Society (UNAS) has been working part-time on the site. This is a "rescue excavation" because parts of the site are close to the surface. This means they could be damaged by farming. Luckily, the local farmer is helping to protect the site.

Explore the Past: The Piddington Villa Museum

On September 4, 2004, Tony Robinson from the TV show Time Team officially opened the Piddington Villa Museum. The Upper Nene Archaeological Society (UNAS) bought the old chapel in 1992. They spent years restoring it, converting it, and raising money. They received a big grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to help with this work.

The museum now shows many of the amazing things found during the long excavation of the villa. The digging has been going on for over 25 years and is still happening! Besides the displays, the building stores many of the found objects. There are also exhibits that show what life might have been like in Roman Britain. The museum also has a library and a study room.

The museum is very popular with local history groups and schools. It helps kids learn about early British history. You can see a detailed model of the villa as it looked in the late 2nd century. There's also a life-sized model of a possible owner, Tiberius Claudius Severus, with an audio presentation. You can even see a full-scale reconstruction of parts of a typical Roman roof and a hypocaust, which was the Roman heating system.

In 2006, the museum and its excavations won the "Mick Aston Award" from the Council for British Archaeology. This award is given for the best way to show an archaeological project to the public.

More Ancient Places to Discover

• Bannaventa Roman town near Norton, Northamptonshire
• Borough Hill Roman villa near Daventry
• Cosgrove Roman villa and bath house
• Nether Heyford, site of two Roman villas