Summary
A rectangular single roomed building, referred to as the Nymphaeum, with an apsidal wall at the north end, housing a natural spring and octagonal reservoir. This part of the villa has been interpreted as a shrine because of the spring which rises here and an alter that was discovered here in 1864. Room 17 refers to the northwestern part of the shrine while room 18 refers to the cistern and south-eastern corner of the shrine area.
Identification Images (0)
Monument Types
- VILLA (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
- SHRINE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
Description
This rectangular single-roomed building is interpreted as a shrine or 'Nymphaeum'. It has an apsidal wall at the north end and an octagonal cistern placed centrally towards the south end, into which water runs from a natural spring rising beneath the northwest corner of the building. This spring water runs in a shallow, open stone channel, c. 10 cm across.
Indications of different phases of the shrine are given by the traces of an earlier rectangular cistern can be seen in the southwest corner of the building, the interior of which is laid to gravel.
The north wall is over 2m high, and the north face is set into the hill slope. There is the potential for the survival of Roman masonry against the slope here, however much of the room has been rebuilt in the C19th and it is unclear how much of the current wall layout is original. There are two pilasters set at the limits of the apse, and some moulded stones in the thickened ends of the walls at the S end of the building. A threshold of large ashlar blocks is set across the south end.[SNA62028].
Farrer records finding the octagonal reservoir filled with rubbish and broken stones, one of which was the pillar used to support the roof placed over the north baths [MNA148205]. He details work done to clear the stream, while keeping the Roman stone channel in its original location and finding the alter in the corner of the room and at a lower level than the drain. Mention is made of walls which were not reconstructed, including one 18 feet (5.49m) long and 2 feet (0.61m) wide that ran across the entrance to the rooms, as well as ones that were. Farrar gives three phases of villa construction during its lifespan but no firm dating. [SNA62047]
In 2016 in phase 4 of the National Trust North Range Research Project, a trench was dug against the external south-east corner of the Nymphaeum. The area had been dug in the 1860s and 1960s and waterpipes from both of these events had cut through the orignal Roman stone water outlet [SNA68987].
References
- SNA62028 - National Trust Report: Atkins Heritage. 2007. Chedworth Roman Villa Conservation Management Plan Gazetteer.
- SNA62044 - Article in monograph: Rutter, E. 1957. Transactions for the Year 1957: Chedworth Roman Villa An Exploratory Trench.
- SNA62047 - Article in serial: Farrer, James. James Farrer to the Rev. Prebendary Scarth in reference to his paper upon Chedworth Villa. 26.
- SNA62047 - Article in serial: Farrer, James. James Farrer to the Rev. Prebendary Scarth in reference to his paper upon Chedworth Villa. 26.
- SNA62049 - Article in serial: Grover, J W. 1868. On a Roman Villa At Chedworth. 24.
- SNA62050 - Article in serial: Roach Smith, C. 1865. The Roman Villa at Chedworth, from 'the Gentleman's Magazine'. September.
- SNA62051 - Article in serial: Vaux, W S W. 1865. Numismatic Society Transactions, March 16th 1865.
- SNA67976 - Unpublished document: Peter Busby. 2019. New Footpath and Decking Chedworth Roman Villa Gloucestershire.
- SNA68987 - Unpublished document: Martin Papworth. 2020. Chedworth Roman Villa North Range Research Project Season 4 August 2016. INT180.
- SZK6517 - Monograph: RCHME. 1976. Iron age and Romano-British monuments in the Gloucestershire Cotswolds.
Other Statuses and References
- HER/SMR Reference (External): 547
Associated Events
- ENA124 - Archaeological Intervention, Boundary Wall to Nymphaeum (room 17), Chedworth Roman Villa (Ref: INT 49)
- ENA3 - Non Archaeological Intervention, Conservation of Nymphaeum Room 17, Chedworth Roman Villa (Ref: INT 57)
- ENA4083 - Archaeological Intervention, Laying of water pipe from Nymphaeum along the north wing, Chedworth Roman Villa
- ENA4087 - Heritage Assessment, Relaying of C19th water pipe, Chedworth Roman Villa
- ENA4108 - Field Survey, Repointing and tile replacement, Nymphaeum (room 17), Chedworth Roman Villa
- ENA4109 - Field Survey, Removal of water pipe between pump and the Nymphaeum tank, Chedworth Roman Villa
- ENA64 - Archaeological Intervention, Richmond's Excavation of Nymphaeum Room 17, Chedworth Roman Villa (Ref: INT 16)
- ENA65 - Archaeological Intervention, Richmond's Excavation of Nymphaeum, Room 18, Chedworth Roman Villa (Ref: INT 16)
- ENA83 - Non Archaeological Intervention, Richmond's Repairs to tank in Nymphaeum, Chedworth Roman Villa (Ref: INT 19)
- ENA9351 - Non Archaeological Intervention, Watching brief on education building decking Jan 2019
- ENA10003 - Archaeological Intervention, Phase 4 North Range Research Project 21, 25b, East Gallery, 19, Nymphaeum Aug 2016
Associated Finds
None Recorded