356 



somewhat elaborate pattern of scroll, fret and other work ; figure 

 subjects being entirely absent. The following notes from Dr. 

 Beatson and Mr. Barlow may help to illustrate the patterns : — 



1. — The principal tesselated floor 18 feet square (discovered 

 12 inches below surface*), colours red, blue and white. The 

 former appears to be red brick, the latter blue and white Lias. 

 The tesserae are larger in the margin of the pavement than in 

 the pattern which is very complex. The centre consists of a 

 circle, with a star, surrounded by an octagon inclosed in a 

 hexagon. The corners of this pavement do not seem to 

 correspond. 



2. — There is a smaller pavement adjacent [double key pattern?], 

 upon which was discovered the base of a freestone column. 



3. — A third pavement has been opened up in the Court Yard, 

 this appears to be at a lower level than the previous two, and 

 has been known some time previous to the present explorations. 



4. — A fourth pavement has been opened up in the kitchen 

 garden (this would be about the same level as the preceding 

 one), with a very beautiful pattern, the centre of which is a 

 circle containing a cross with four hearts surrounding. 



The thickness of the walls of the Villa vary from 1 foot 

 6 inches to 2 feet thick, and from even the present amount 

 opened up seems to suggest an extensive plan. 



W. H. B. 



Mr. Smith says " there are five colours, but it is not easy to 

 make out the fifth." This is because the colours are red, blue, 

 white, and a grey or drab of two shades, in one of which blue 

 in the other yellow slightly predominates. In the first pavement, 

 which has been least protected by its covering, the colours are 

 dull and a good many tesseroe have been removed, so the pattern 

 is difiicult to follow, but it is, I think, mainly as above 

 described. The figures are not all geometrical, and the corners are 



* One part only six inches below. 



