SDO9804 - Archaeological Find. Dorset County Chronicle

"A most interesting discovery has been made in the grounds of Somerleigh House, the residence of Mr. Pearce Edgcumbe, who is making extensive alterations and additions to his house, the work being carried out by Messrs. Guy and Son, builders of this town. In the course of the necessary excavations the workmen unearthed a relic of the Roman occupation of Dorchester in the shape of a portion of tesselated pavement, which is in very fair preservation, and proves that Somerleigh was “long, long ago” the site of a Roman villa, and the fragment of pavement which has been accidentally revealed to modern eyes, formed, no doubt, the floor of one of the principal apartments. In the course of digging the workmen came upon something which resisted both pick and spade. Mr. Pearce Edgecumbe’s attention was drawn to the matter, and he at once gave directions that the utmost care should be used in the removal of the earth, and, due precaution having been taken, there was uncovered, at a depth of rather more than four feet from the surface, a piece of Roman mosaic work arranged in a most beautiful pattern. The dimensions of the pavement are four feet long, by three feet wide. The following is a description:- It is of a beautiful rose pattern, the “rose” being nearly 2ft. in diameter, and almost perfect in all its details. It consists of small bits of mosaic (or tesserae) about 5/8 of an inch cube, and in five colours – viz., cream-white, grey-black, pale buff, terra-cotta, and pale turquoise. The pavement is laid upon the most elaborate foundation; it rests upon 3in. of fine mortar, below which is 4ln. of rammed chalk, and the primary base is about 2in of concrete. One of the most curious features about the pavement is that underneath it is a perfect square flue, the object of which is involved in some doubt, and it can only be assumed that it performed some heating purpose, either for the floor or for the interior of the building. The blending of the colours and the perfect taste of the design produce an effect which can scarcely be described. Those possessed of antiquarian tastes will be pleased to know that Mr. Pearce Edgecumbe has taken means for preserving this exquisite example of ancient art, which has been safely removed from the bed where it has reposed unseen for so many ages, and it will be placed in the entrance hall of the new buildings now undergoing erection; and in order that the precious relic may receive proper attention, Mr. Pearce Edgecumbe proposes to obtain the services of Italian workmen for relaying it, and he has moreover taken the precaution of making a tracing of the pavement, preserving all the details as to pattern and colours. Other Roman remains have also been discovered, forming evidently portions of the walls of the old villa, and it is remarkable that some of the plaster still adheres to them, and in a few instances there were unmistakable traces of pictorial designs, the colouring being excellently preserved. A fine large bronze coin of the Maximian period was also found, justifying the assumption that the villa was erected about that time. A similar pavement was discovered about 30 years ago, some 15 yards to the south, by the late Mr. Edward Pearce, but it was not taken up, and it now lies under lawn on the south side of the house."