Great Witcombe Roman Villa

The remains of a large and luxurious villa built around AD 250, with a bathhouse complex and possibly the shrine of a water spirit.

The villa at Great Witcombe is one of a group of large houses in the region and was constructed on the steep banks of Birdlip Hill below a line of springs.

It was built around AD 250 and there is evidence of two main phases of occupation lasting to the 5th century.

The villa was discovered in 1818 and partially excavated, and there were further excavations in the 20th century. 

The growth of the new tribal capital of Corinium (Cirencester), the importance of Glevum (Gloucester) and the rich farming land made the Cotswold region a popular area to live during Roman times.