18 



the situation in Lydney Park is very beautiful and command- 

 ing. The inclosure which surrounds the Villa and its 

 appendages had also contained a temple dedicated to the 

 god " Nodon," as is known from an inscription in brass dug 

 up there. Somersetshire, as well as Gloucestershire, was 

 noted for its Villas, and rich in pavements as well. I have 

 mentioned that the remains of 20 villas have been found 

 within a radius of eight or nine miles around Bath. In the 

 neighbourhood of Somerton very extensive Villas have been 

 found — two in the parish of Kingsdon, one near the Roman 

 Koad to Ilchester, the other on the Bank of the Carey ; and a 

 third at Lytes Carey. These three Villas are, according to 

 Mr. Wright, included in a distance of about a mile. In the 

 parish of Hurcot, adjoining Somerton, two Villas have been 

 found, another at Charlton Mackarel, and another at Copley, 

 and in the parish of Littleton several Villas have been found. 

 Others could be mentioned, all in the neighbourhood of 

 Somerton, as at Pitney, which Villa covered an acre and a- 

 half of ground, and contained a very remarkable pavement, 

 of which this Institution possesses engravings.* 



Roman Villas appear to have been equally abundant in 

 Hampshire and Oxfordshire. Sussex boasts the handsome 

 Roman Villa at Bignor, situated near the Roman road from 

 Chichester (Regnum) to London, and others also in that 

 neighbourhood. The pavements at Bignor, which are pro- 

 tected, and exhibited to visitors, are well worth a visit. In 

 Cambridgeshire and Essex, Roman Villas have been un- 

 covered by the Hon. Richard Neville, who has collected an 

 interesting Museum at Audley End, and has recorded the 

 results of his excavations in the pages of the " Archaeological 



* A Roman Villa has lately been uncovered at Chedworth, near Foss Bridge, 

 north of Cirencester, on Lord Eldon's estate, which is described, though briefly, 

 in the proceedings of the " Society of Antiquaries of Scotland," vol. vi., pt. ii., 

 p. 278, by James Farrer, Esq., M.P. This was visited by the Field Club in 

 May, 1867. 



