Monument record MDO2317 - Roman mosaic pavement, Rampisham

A Roman pavement in nearly perfect condition is said to have been found in 1799 in a field about a mile north north west of the parish church. It was subsequently broken up by treasure-seekers. In his 'History of Dorset' the antiquarian John Hutchins reported that the exposed area was about 14 feet by 10 feet, and was a floral and striped design enclosed in a broad border.

[ST 55760362] Roman tesselated pavement found A.D. 1799 [NAT] (1)

"Found in 1799 in a nearly perfect state. It was subsequently broken up by treasure-seekers. acc. to Hutchins (a) it was about 14' x 10' and composed of tesserae about 2" square. There were no remains of walls" Design floral & geometric. (2-3)

The site is crossed by a modern field bank, and the field on each side is under grass. On the N side of the bank there is an irregular rectangular mound, 0.2 m. high. This mound is approximately 10.0 m. N-S., and 6.0 m. E-W.
No surface finds were made. (4)

An area of permanent pasture. No change; the unsurveyable rise on the north side of the hedge may indicate the 18th century area of dumped soil. There is however no reason to deny the O.S. published siting which is probably based on early but authoritative information. (5)

Some plain tesserae were found on the site in the 1930's. (6)

No change. (7)

DO 25 Listed as the possible site of a Roman villa. (8)

<1> 1866, Hutchins History of Dorset Vol 2, 692 (Monograph). SWX2155.

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1903 (Map). SWX1540.

[ST 55760362] Roman tesselated pavement found A.D. 1799 [NAT]

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 191 (Monograph). SDO97.

'(1) PAVEMENT, nearly 1m. N.N.W. of the church, was found in 1799 in a nearly perfect state, It was subsequently broken up by treasure-seekers. According to Hutchins (Hist. of Dorset, II, p. 192) it was about 14 ft. by 10 ft. and composed of tesserae about 2 in. square. There were no remains of walls. The design, reproduced in Hutchins, consisted of a broad border enclosing a large twelve-petalled floral ornament overlying a striped pattern in concentric circles, with similarly striped quadrants at the four corners'.

<4> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F1 NVQ 03-JUN-55 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<5> Historic England, Historic England Archive, OS55/F77/6 (Index). SDO14738.

DRAWING OF ROMAN PAVEMENT FROM RAMPISHAM

<6> Historic England, Historic England Archive, AO55/77/6 (Index). SDO14738.

DRAWING OF MOSAIC WHICH WAS FOUND IN NEARLY PERFECT CONDITION IN 1799 BUT SUBSEQUENTLY BROKEN UP BY TREASURE HUNTERS

<7> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ, F2 NVQ 14-NOV-71 (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<8> Anne Rainey, 1973, Mosaics in Roman Britain: a gazetteer, 130 (Monograph). SDO17837.

<10> Scott, E, 1993, A Gazetteer of Roman villas in Britain, 53-4 (Bibliographic reference). SWX1795.

<11> National Record of the Historic Environment, 195774 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

<910> Field Investigators Comments MCC, F3 MCC 17-FEB-87 (Unpublished document). SDO16335.

Record last edited

Mar 22 2022 1:40PM