NHER 3575 (Monument record) - Site of Roman villa, Watery Lane

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Summary

The remains of a substantial Roman villa were discovered here in the late 19th century. The site was excavated in the early 20th century, which revealed the plan of the villa, as well as painted wallplaster, tesserae and other Roman finds.

Protected Status/Designation

Scheduled Monument 1003969: Roman villa adjoining Watery Lane

Location

Map sheet	TF72SW
Civil Parish	GRIMSTON, WEST NORFOLK, NORFOLK

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Full Description

Roman villa.
First discovered about 1860.
Excavated 1905 to 1906.
Details and (S1) in file.
E. Rose (NLA) October 1990.

1964.
Transferred from Colchester Museum to NCM:
2 small pierced clay objects "…from the Roman villa at Grimston, Norfolk".
Subsequently accessioned as NWHCM : 1965.22. See sketch (S2) and associated correspondence (S3).
P. Watkins (HES), 25 November 2015.

(S2) states that this is a substantial building that was probably more complex than a winged corridor villa.
The excavations in 1905 and 1906 recovered painted wall plaster, tesserae, and other Roman finds. See lists in file for more details.
S. Spooner (NLA) 18 January 2006

Associated Sources (21)

--- SNF50744 Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D.A. (NLA). 1996. TF 7121AES.
--- SNF1332 Article in Serial: Laver, H. 1907. On a Roman Villa recently discovered at Grimston, Norfolk. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XVI pp 219-227.
--- SNF1332 Article in Serial: Laver, H. 1907. On a Roman Villa recently discovered at Grimston, Norfolk. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XVI pp 219-227.
--- SNF8196 Article in Serial: Smallwood, J.. 1997. Grimston Villa.. The Annual. No 6, p 12ff.
--- SNF97838 Collection: Norfolk Historic Environment Record Staff. 1975-[2000]. HER Record Notes. Norfolk Historic Environment Service.
--- SNF60531 Correspondence: Bate, Major.. 1906. Postcard to Dr. Laver.
--- SNF60533 Correspondence: Various. 1950. Correspondence with R. R. Clarke about damage to the Roman site at Grimston.
--- SNF43 Designation: [unknown]. Ancient Monuments Form. SAM Record. DNF260.
--- SNF60530 Illustration: 1906. Plan of Roman Villa at Grimston.
--- SNF60529 Newspaper Article: Lynn News and Advertiser. 1906. Interesting discoveries in West Norfolk - Roman remains at Grimston. November.
--- SNF51701 Photograph: Beloe, E. M.. 1906. [unknown].
--- SNF87262 Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Late Saxon. Grimston.
--- SNF87263 Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Medieval. Grimston.
--- SNF87260 Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Roman. Grimston.
--- SNF57722 Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
--- SNF57204 Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TF 72 SW 9 [2].
--- SNF8804 Secondary File: Secondary File.
<S1> SNF58396 Designation: Ministry of Works. Schedule Report.
<S2> SNF58823 Article in Monograph: Gregory, A. 1982. Romano-British Settlement in West Norfolk and on the Norfolk Fen Edge. The Romano-British Countryside, Studies in Rural Settlement and Economy. Miles, D. (ed.). British Archaeological Reports British Series No 103 pp 352-376. pt ii, pp 351-376.
<S2> SNF93909 Illustration: Clarke, D. 1964. Rough sketches of two pierced clay objects from Grimston Roman villa. Paper. 1:1.
<S3> SNF60532 Correspondence: 1964. Correspondance between D. Clarke and F. Cheetham about objects from the Roman villa in Colchester Museum.

Site and Feature Types and Periods (5)

Object Types (22)

ANIMAL REMAINS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
ARCHITECTURAL FRAGMENT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
BROOCH (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
BUCKLE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
FLUE TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
KNIFE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
MOLLUSCA REMAINS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
NAIL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
PIN (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
POT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
ROOF TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
TESSERA (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
TESSERA (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
TESSERA (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
TILE (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
UNIDENTIFIED OBJECT (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
VESSEL (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
WINDOW GLASS (Roman - 43 AD to 409 AD)
POT (Late Saxon - 851 AD to 1065 AD)
POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

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Record last edited

Jul 18 2023 8:39AM