DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6911#0107
DOMESTIC, OR CIVIL ARCHITECTURE.
7.5
of the pavement, formed. The principal room, in which the richest pavement was
found, occupied a square space of forty-eight feet ten inches ; and the tesserae were
laid in various figures and forms, representing the Vitruvian Scroll, Labyrinth Fret,
and Guilloche, which are very common ornaments ; also a Mask of Pan, with a
beard of foliage, various beasts, trees, flowers, &c. " The figures of a gryphon, a
bear, a leopard, a stag, a tigress, a lion and lioness, are remaining. Those of a
boar, a dog, and an elephant, and two others, unknown, but necessary to fill up the
whole space, have been destroyed: most of these figures are about four feet in length."
It may be proper to remark, that the Villa, just described, was in the vicinity, or
at least within fifteen miles, of the great Roman stations, at Corinium, Cirencester,
Olevum, Gloucester, Trajectus, at Aust Passage ; and within thirty miles of Aquce-
Solis and Venla-Silurum. Numerous encampments are still remaining in the
neighbourhood; and the Ikenild-Street, Foss-way, and Erming-Street, are ascer-
tained to have intersected each other at Corinium.
Tessellated pavements,* foundations, &c. of several other Iloman Villas, have
* It cannot be deemed irrelevant to point out the situations and sizes of some of these. Near Cotterstock, in
Northamptonshire, a curious tessellated pavement, of about 20 feet square, was discovered in 1736. An engrav-
ing of it was published in the Vetusta Monumenta, Vol. I. pi. xlviii.
In the year 1737 another was uncovered at Wellow, near Bath. It was 32 feet by 22 feet: there was a
second, measuring 20 by 15 feet; and a third, 18 by 5 feet. These have been lately re-examined, and drawn by
Mr. S. Lysons, who gave a description of them to the Society of Antiquaries. In the Vetusta Monumenta, Vol.
I. are three prints representing them ; and some account of the same is inserted in the Gentleman's Magazine,
Vol. LV1I. p. 961.
At Winterton, in Lincolnshire, three pavements were discovered in 1747, one of which measured 30 by 20
feet, and was ornamented in the centre, with a representation of Orpheus playing on his lyre, surrounded by beasts;
" but so represented," says Mr. King, very justly, " that he seems quite as rude an animal as those he is charm-
ing."—A print of it bas been published in the Vetusta Monumenta, Vol. II. pi. ix. Another, more correct, has
been published by Mr. Fowler, of Winterton, a "self taught" artist, who has drawn and engraved several other
Roman pavements.
At Stunsfield, near Woodstock, in Oxfordshire, was discovered, in the year 1712, a very curious and fine
pavement (resembling one found at Morviedro, the ancient Seguntum in Spain,) measuring 35 feet by 20. Near
it were the foundation walls of three other rooms, respectively measuring 20 feet square, 12± feet square, and 12
feet square. Vertue has engraved a view of the former: and accounts of it are given in Leland's Itinerary, Vol.
VIII.; Gough's Camden, Vol. I.; and Archaeologia, Vol. XI.
In 1786, fragments of two tessellated pavements were discovered in a field called Pitt-Mead, near Warminster,
in Wiltshire; also a smooth floor, and some foundations of buildings. These are described, and prints given of
them, in the Vetusta Monumenta, Vol II. : also in the Gentleman's Magazine, Vol. LVII. p. 221.
A very fine tessellated pavement was found at Littlecot Park, in Wiltshire, a print of which has been published.
Several other pavements have been discovered in various parts of England : as at Leicester, Cirencester, Col-
chester, London, Caerwent, Wroxeter ; also at several places in Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Kent, Essex, and in other
counties.
7.5
of the pavement, formed. The principal room, in which the richest pavement was
found, occupied a square space of forty-eight feet ten inches ; and the tesserae were
laid in various figures and forms, representing the Vitruvian Scroll, Labyrinth Fret,
and Guilloche, which are very common ornaments ; also a Mask of Pan, with a
beard of foliage, various beasts, trees, flowers, &c. " The figures of a gryphon, a
bear, a leopard, a stag, a tigress, a lion and lioness, are remaining. Those of a
boar, a dog, and an elephant, and two others, unknown, but necessary to fill up the
whole space, have been destroyed: most of these figures are about four feet in length."
It may be proper to remark, that the Villa, just described, was in the vicinity, or
at least within fifteen miles, of the great Roman stations, at Corinium, Cirencester,
Olevum, Gloucester, Trajectus, at Aust Passage ; and within thirty miles of Aquce-
Solis and Venla-Silurum. Numerous encampments are still remaining in the
neighbourhood; and the Ikenild-Street, Foss-way, and Erming-Street, are ascer-
tained to have intersected each other at Corinium.
Tessellated pavements,* foundations, &c. of several other Iloman Villas, have
* It cannot be deemed irrelevant to point out the situations and sizes of some of these. Near Cotterstock, in
Northamptonshire, a curious tessellated pavement, of about 20 feet square, was discovered in 1736. An engrav-
ing of it was published in the Vetusta Monumenta, Vol. I. pi. xlviii.
In the year 1737 another was uncovered at Wellow, near Bath. It was 32 feet by 22 feet: there was a
second, measuring 20 by 15 feet; and a third, 18 by 5 feet. These have been lately re-examined, and drawn by
Mr. S. Lysons, who gave a description of them to the Society of Antiquaries. In the Vetusta Monumenta, Vol.
I. are three prints representing them ; and some account of the same is inserted in the Gentleman's Magazine,
Vol. LV1I. p. 961.
At Winterton, in Lincolnshire, three pavements were discovered in 1747, one of which measured 30 by 20
feet, and was ornamented in the centre, with a representation of Orpheus playing on his lyre, surrounded by beasts;
" but so represented," says Mr. King, very justly, " that he seems quite as rude an animal as those he is charm-
ing."—A print of it bas been published in the Vetusta Monumenta, Vol. II. pi. ix. Another, more correct, has
been published by Mr. Fowler, of Winterton, a "self taught" artist, who has drawn and engraved several other
Roman pavements.
At Stunsfield, near Woodstock, in Oxfordshire, was discovered, in the year 1712, a very curious and fine
pavement (resembling one found at Morviedro, the ancient Seguntum in Spain,) measuring 35 feet by 20. Near
it were the foundation walls of three other rooms, respectively measuring 20 feet square, 12± feet square, and 12
feet square. Vertue has engraved a view of the former: and accounts of it are given in Leland's Itinerary, Vol.
VIII.; Gough's Camden, Vol. I.; and Archaeologia, Vol. XI.
In 1786, fragments of two tessellated pavements were discovered in a field called Pitt-Mead, near Warminster,
in Wiltshire; also a smooth floor, and some foundations of buildings. These are described, and prints given of
them, in the Vetusta Monumenta, Vol II. : also in the Gentleman's Magazine, Vol. LVII. p. 221.
A very fine tessellated pavement was found at Littlecot Park, in Wiltshire, a print of which has been published.
Several other pavements have been discovered in various parts of England : as at Leicester, Cirencester, Col-
chester, London, Caerwent, Wroxeter ; also at several places in Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Kent, Essex, and in other
counties.