ROMAN VILLA AT HARPHAM, EAST YORKS. 

 By Thomas Sheppard, F.G.S. 



A DISCOVERY of what may eventually prove to be a 

 Roman villa of no mean importance was made 

 during the latter part of 1904, in a locality where 

 such extensive traces of Roman occupation were little 

 suspected. Evidences of the villa were first noticed by the 

 farmer, in " Cross Trod Field," near Harpham, about two 

 miles from the old "High Street," leading from Bridling- 

 ton to Sledmere. A previous tenant had removed large 

 quantities of coarse sandstone from a slight and somewhat 

 rectangular eminence in Cross Trod Field, which probably 

 represented parts of the walls or foundation of the villa. 

 These stones were used in the farm buildings, and so 

 complete was their removal that not one piece was observed 

 in the recent excavation. 



The attention of the Rev. C. V. Collier, F.S.A., having 

 been called to a few tessera? that had been turned up by the 

 plough, that gentleman had a small trial hole made, which 

 revealed a portion of a mosaic pavement of red and white 

 tessera?. Subsequent excavations were abandoned until 

 after the corn was gathered, when they were resumed. The 

 writer was then invited to join Mr. Collier in the work, and 

 by the kindness of the owner of the land, Mr. W. H. St. 

 Quintin, J. P., some labourers were employed. The exca- 

 vations revealed three different pavements, two close 

 together, the third some little distance away. These were 

 at depths varying from a few inches to two feet. When 

 near the surface the tessera? had been disturbed by the 

 plough, and in the case of the pavement, shewn in Plate XVI. 

 fig. 1, man)' of the tessera? had entirely disappeared, leaving 

 only the underlying concrete. 



Upon the pavements were found quantities of wall-plaster, 

 roofing tiles, oyster shells, nails, coins, pottery, &c. , which 

 the owner allowed to be exhibited in the Hull Museum. 



At this juncture, the removal of Mr. Collier from the 

 district necessitated a temporary suspension of operations, 

 which, however, were resumed on the pavements, and 

 specimens found being presented to the Hull Municipal 



