Gadebridge Park Roman Villa
| Gadebridge Park Roman Villa | |
|---|---|
 Site of Gadebridge Roman Villa | |
  Location within Hertfordshire | |
| General information | |
| Location |
Hemel Hempstead grid reference TL049087 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 51°46′02″N 0°28′52″W / 51.7672°N 0.4811°W |
| Construction started | 1st century |
| Demolished | c. 350 |
Gadebridge Roman Villa is a ruined Roman villa in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England. A chance discovery in 1962, it was excavated in 1963-68 under the direction of David S. Neal. A second excavation took place in 2000, also under the direction of Dr Neal.
The site may have begun as a pre Roman farm, but after the Roman invasion of AD43 its proximity to the Roman city of Verulamium seems to have precipitated its development into a sort of spa and resort. From the Antonine Period, c. 138 AD, stone buildings were added, and around 300 AD a large swimming pool, the biggest in Roman Britain after the one at Bath were built.[1][2]
The site may have been leveled around AD 350 possibly because of its owner's support for the usurper emperor Magnentius. It returned to agricultural use and was used for cattle pens. Since the excavations the site has been scheduled and is under grassland.[3]
References
- ↑ Dacorum Heritage Trust, 'What did they find during the 1960s exacavations?'
- ↑ Yaxley , chapter 2
- ↑ Historic England. "Gadebridge Roman Villa (1015577)". National Heritage List for England.
Sources
- Gadebridge Roman Villa Dacorum Heritage Trust, Accessed March 2012
- Gadebridge Roman Villa St Albans Museums, Accessed March 2012
- Neal, David S. (1974). The excavation of the Roman villa in Gadebridge Park, Hemel Hempstead, 1963-8 (Reports of the Research Committee of the Society of Antiquaries of London, 31)
- Yaxley, Susan; others (1981) [1973]. History of Hemel Hempstead. Amplion Press: Hemel Hempstead Local History and Records Society. ISBN 0-9502743-0-5.
- Discover how Dacorum's largest Roman villa evolved 'Our Dacorum', Herts Memories Network. Accessed March 2012
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