VOL. XX. (2) 
FIELD MEETINGS, 1919 
75 
at Ched worth 1 and also near Brimpsfield ( Blacklains ) and at Arle (Monklaines) , 
indicates divisions of arable land, sown in regular succession to prevent the 
ground being too much exhausted. The “ White Way ” runs from 
Cirencester between Chedworth and Withington Villas on (via Evesham) to 
the Roman station of Alcester, and was made and used for conveying the 
produce of the various Villas — Spoonley, Wadley, Withington and Chedworth 
— to Corinium, just as the greater Ermine Street was the highway for bringing 
the produce of other large districts into Glevum. 
On reaching the Roman Villa Members partook of their luncheon under 
the trees in the grounds, and before examining the various groups of buildings 
the President gave a most interesting outline of the later years (third and fourth 
century) of the Roman* occupation of Britain and the probable purpose of this 
particular Villa, the site of which he described as quite unique. He said that 
the Villa was only one of an extensive group of Villas which supplied Corinium. 
The period of the Roman rule comprised only some eighty to ninety years 
which might be called happy and really prosperous, and these he assigned as 
roughly from the time of Diocletian (a.d. 290) to that of Gratian (a.d. 367). 
The evidence of the mosaic-pavements, coins, and other remains all indicate 
that the building of almost all the various Villas near here was later than the 
second century, their existence showing that security of possession was by 
then quite undisturbed, and the civil area enclosed by the Severn and Humber 
was enjoying a period of peace. Beyond those rivers all was military. 
The Villa at Withington, scarcely two miles away, was found in 1811 in a 
field called Withington-on-the-Wall, probably from the ploughmen constantly 
turning over the stone remains, and on one of the. mosaic floors (third or 
fourth century) — now in the British Museum — is the figure of a man bearing 
an instrument called a rake, but which equally suggests a large comb used for 
“ currying ” cloth. The Chedworth Villa shows unmistakable evidence of a 
large and flourishing dyeing establishment, and perhaps of the making of 
cloth as well. 
As a rule the occupation of a Roman Villa has become associated with the 
idea of the luxurious life of a leisurely noble of the Empire, but here in the 
remotest western province, looking at the fact that Chedworth faces almost 
due east, stands on an elevation of about 500 feet, and is exposed to the 
coldest winds of this northern climate, is it reasonable to suppose that it would 
have been built merely as the residence of a rich man who could choose 
practically any site he wished ? As a general rule Roman Villas in Britain 
faced to the south. Reason seems to demand a simpler interpretation. 
For evidence that this Villa may have been a commercial establishment, 
the President stated that in the wood close above is a spring, so placed that 
the water would have flowed right through the set of chambers on the northern 
side, while in the hill behind also occurs a rich out-crop of Fullers’ Earth 
(Creta Fullonia), the soap of the ancients. The discovery of soap, as we 
know it, dates only some ten years before the destruction of Pompeii. When 
1 Chedworth Laines is a hamlet half a mile away. 
