Notes on the Roman Villa at Chedworth. ^ the Rev. Si Ltsons, 

 M.A., F.S.A. 



Read at the Foss Bridge Meeting. 



To tHe accident of a lost fen-et we are indebted for the discovery 

 of one of. the most interesting Roman or Romano-Britisli Villas 

 existing in this country. The under keeper of the noble Earl to 

 whom we are indebted for the courtesy of this day's treat, in 

 thrusting his arm into a rabbit burrow to pull out the recreant 

 animal, at the same time drew out a number of tesserje, which, 

 being submitted to the inspection of those who understood 

 such matters, were at once pronounced to be of Roman type, 

 iiidicating the existence of a pavement at that spot. Further 

 search proved the correctness of the suspicion ; and fortunatelj^ 

 Mr. James Farber^ the uncle and guardian of the noble Earl, 

 being a man of scientific pursuits, was not one who would 

 allow the suggestion to remain without further enquiry. To 

 his diligence of research, and to his nephew's, liberal outlay, 

 antiquaries are indebted for the rescue of this most interesting 

 historic relic — interesting, not only as revealing to us a work of 

 art of the times when the Romans held sway in this countiy, 

 but still more so from the historic fragments which may be 

 collected from hence, and which, when pieced in with history 

 and tradition, help to restore a link which was well-nigh 

 obhterated, in consequence of the loss of that historic literature 

 which I cannot help thinking we must have once possessed. 

 And thus, like our Geological friends, we are able, if not to 

 assert as positive fact, yet to form very shrewd and not, I 

 think, unfounded guesses as to what have been in former days 

 traces of real history, handed down to us in obscure traditions. 



