Wanstead Roman Villa

Wanstead Roman Villa was a Roman villa on an unknown site in what is now Wanstead Park. Archaeological excavations carried out in 1985 indicated a Roman presence here from the 1st to the 5th century AD, but did not locate any specific site of a Roman villa.

Typical Romano-British Villa Farmstead

A mosaic discovered in 1715 by gardener Adam Holt was described as:

"... from north to south ... 20 feet, and from east to west about 16; that it was composed of small square brick tesserae of different sizes and colours, as black, white, red, &c., of all which I have specimens; that there was a border about a foot broad went, round it, Composed of red dice, about ¾ of an inch square, within which were severall ornaments, and in the middle the figure of a man riding upon some beast and holding something in his hands; but, as he opened it onely in a hurry, and in different places, he was able to give no bettor account of it."

— Smart Lethieullier, Aldersbrook, July 12, 1735

Historical context of the Roman antiquities at Wanstead

The local British tribes of (what became) Essex before the Claudian Roman invasion of 43CE were the Trinobantes and the Catuvellauni, with the Catuvellauni the largest tribe in Britian and the more dominant in the area of Wanstead at the time of the Claudian invasion, with their capital at Colchester.

In early June 43CE a Roman force of 45,000 (four 5,000-man Legions and 25,000 auxiliaries) led in part by the future Emperor Vespasian had met an army of 150,000 Britons, under the Catuvellauni kings Caratacus and his brother Togodumnus, on the River Medway, Kent, as recorded by Cassius Dio. The Britons were defeated in a two-day battle, and then again shortly afterwards on the Thames. Togodumnus was killed and Caratacus withdrew to continue resistance elsewhere in Britain.

Having crossed the Thames the Romans established a fort at Camulodonum (Colchester) which became connected to Londinium (London) by the Roman road running south of Wanstead, immediately south passing through Forest Gate, on through Ilford and Romford, to Chelmsford and Colchester - Roman Road 3 (RR3).

Suetonius, writing around AD 120, recorded a prominent role played by one commander, Titus Flavius Vespasianus (later the emperor Vespasian), with Legio II Augusta. As one of the four conquering legions Vespasian‘s troops may have constructed all or part of the Roman road to Camulodunum.

Roman roads through east London and Essex

A series of roads developed out from Londinium between 43CE and 68CE, with RR3 leaving the north-east corner of the capital through the Roman gate at Aldgate (known as the Old Gate to the later Saxons), then following the line of what is now Whitechapel Road through to Camulodunum (Colchester) and Venta Icenorum (Norwich), being recorded by the Romans as both Iter V and Iter XI in the Antonine Itinerary.

Roman road construction was undertaken by the Roman legions and a Roman road was constructed from Old Ford (at Bow-Stratford) through Wanstead and on to Chigwell (Roman Durolitum), also built by Roman legionaries. The road connected London to Great Dunmow and at its northernmost point forms a connection between two Roman roads (RR30 & RR32), with RR32 running west from Camulodunum to Braughing (Roman name unknown - near Ware, Hertfordshire) and facilitating access to central southern Britain from Camulodonum to support military activity and later trade.

Evidence for a Roman road at Wanstead

An ancient Roman agger – evidence of the course of a Roman road – can be seen in the woods at the junction of Blake Hall Road and Bush Road adjacent to the estate boundary of Wanstead House (marked by the gates to the estate which still stand at this busy traffic junction). This agger aligns with RR30 and may present evidence of a Roman road running from the ancient Roman crossing at Old Ford to Great Dunmow, passing along this ancient Roman agger at Wanstead on its route. Projecting further to Aldgate.

Ivan Margary

The classification of Roman roads in Britain was created by Ivan Margary, an antiquarian philanthropist who numbered the roads to better enable their study. The Roman road from London to Great Dunmow (through Roman Wanstead and Roman Chigwell) was numbered RR30 by Margary, signifying a relatively minor road with the Roman settlement at Leyton to the west, Roman Wanstead to the east and Roman Chigwell (Durolitum) developing along the RR30 itself. Single digit numbers, e.g. RR3 indicate that this was a major Roman road in Margary’s classification, whilst RR30 running through Wanstead to Roman Chigwell and Great Dunmow was of less importance.

Evidence for Roman settlement at Wanstead

Adam Holt Adam Holt (19 September 1689 - 29 August 1750 [England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, Indexing Project Batch Number: I01200-7, GS Film number: 817383, Reference ID: P145] buried at Wanstead 31 Aug 1750 (Married Elizabeth Davis 11 Jun 1726 St Botolph Aldgate) Will (dated 01 04 1743) proved Sep 1750 [National Archives' reference PROB 11/782/114].)

The first mention of Roman antiquities at Wanstead credits the ‘Gardiner’ Adam Holt with their discovery. Adam Holt was, however, much more than a gardener. A surveyor, nurseryman, plantsman, canal engineer and drainage contractor, Holt became a leading specialist in the development of the Auricula (primula) and undertook major and comprehensive works in London and Essex, which included experience in the discovery of ancient antiquities.

Holt was born at St Botolph’s in 1689 and signed his last will at testament at Wanstead on 01 April 1743, prior to his death in 1750, his will being proved on September 1750. He was survived by his wife Elizabeth Holt (nee Davis) and was able to leave provision in his will for his wife along with kinsmen: William Baines Adam Holt and Charles Holt.

Adam Holt worked on the gardens at Fulham Palace for George London (1640 - 12 January 1714) who himself may have been influenced indirectly by the Versailles landscape gardener André Le Nôtre, on commissions for the Bishop of London Henry Compton. Holt also worked at several notable Essex houses on garden landscaping, canalisation and large-scale drainage projects, including those at Wanstead House as plans for lakes and ponds during the previous Stuart period (1603 – 1714) included long avenues of trees, statues, formal watercourses, mounts and a wilderness, together with new species of plants. These commissions included the garden and watercourses at Coopersale House at Epping.

Holt was working at the beginning of the Georgian era, and was continuing the Stuart tradition with his large scale avenue style tree-planting which directly facilitated his discoveries of ancient Roman and other finds in the grounds of Wanstead House.

Adam Holt also held a nursery at Grove Green, Leytonstone, roughly a mile south of the Roman settlement at Leyton, where Roman remains were also discovered through landscaping and tree-planting activity linked to a major house, the Leyton Manor Hall.

The discovery of the Roman antiquities and buildings at Leyton (at that time believed to be the Roman settlement of Durolitum – Durolitum itself in fact being Roman Chigwell and which later became known as ‘Little London’) in 1718 shortly followed Holt’s discoveries at Wanstead House and both were revisited by Aldersbrook antiquarian Smart Lethieullier in 1735, through his letters to the Antiquarian Society. It is tempting to speculate that Adam Holt the ‘Gardiner’ may have also been involved in those discoveries of further extensive ancient Roman antiquities at Leyton, in addition to his discoveries of Roman buildings, burials, coins and artefacts in the grounds of Wanstead House and elsewhere.

By the time of his death in 1760 Adam Holt was living at Wanstead and owned property and derived rents from his holdings at the Green Man, close to the ‘Leyton stone’, which is still standing where the road from the Green Man roundabout divides between Hollybush Hill and New Wanstead. The base, an original Roman milestone, indicating distance to and from Londinium in miles, and similar to the extant Havering milestone on the London Road in Chadwell Heath.

The Antiquarians and Roman Wanstead

Smart Lethieullier - Antiquarian (03 November 1701 – 27 August 1760).

Smart Lethieullier’s first letter on the Roman antiquities at Wanstead

Mr. LETHIEULLIER to Mr. GALE, giving an Account of a Roman Pavement at Wansted Park in Essex. July 12, 1735

SIR,

Though my attendance in the country at this season of the year will not permit me to be present at the weekly meetings of the Society at the Mitre, yet I shall have the greatest respect for it, and be glad on all occasions to do what lies within the compass of my poor abilities, either to promote the end of its institution, or entertain the gentlemen who compose it.

As I remember, there is only a slight memorandum in the great drawing book relating to a Roman pavement discovered about twenty years ago in Sir Richard Child's (now earl Tylney's) park at Wansted in Essex; as the whole is now obliterated, and the face of the ground so much changed, that a curious enquirer must ask, Ubi Troja fuit? I hope the following account of it will not be thought an intrusion upon your time.

The occasion of this discovery was the digging holes for an avenue of trees from the gardens. Mr. Adam Holt, the gardener, perceiving several of the tesserae thrown up, soon conjectured what he was upon, and earnestly endeavoured, though in vain, to obtain leave to lay it quite open: however he examined it so far as to find that its extent from north to south was about twenty feet, and from east to west about sixteen; that it was composed of small square brick tesserae of different sizes and colours, as black, white, red, &c. of all which I have specimens.

That there was a border about a foot broad went round it, composed of red dice, about of an inch square, within which were several ornaments, and in the middle the figure of a man riding upon some beast, and holding something in his hand; but as he opened it only in a hurry, and in different places, he was able to give no better account of it. There was then found a silver coin, but of what Emperor I have not been able to learn, and one of the small brass of Valens,

DN VALENS PF AVG Reverse, SECRITAS REIPVB Exergue, LVG. P.

'now in my possession, which are all the coins or other antiquities that were ever found at this place, at least to my knowledge. I have frequently visited it (once I think with you, when you favoured me with your company at Aldersbrook) and have found not only many of the aforesaid tesserae, but several pieces of large Roman brick, some hollowed, probably for gutters.

This pavement was situated on a gentle gravelly ascent towards the north, and at a small distance from the south end of it I remember a well of exceeding fine water, now absorbed in a great pond: from this well the ground rises likewise toward the south till it comes to a plain, which extends a considerable way, and is now my warren, but by tradition was once covered with wood.

On the brink of this very plain, and about 300 yards due south from the said well and pavement, there were in my memory the ruins of foundations to be feen, though now destroyed by planting trees round the park pales; the mounds about them having been since levelled, has raised the ground very much.

The place where this antiquity was discovered is a part, as I said before, of Earl Tylney's park, which lies on the south side of his gardens, and is bounded to the south by my estate at Aldersbrook, a part of which it was, till King Henry VIII inclosed it within his new-made park, as the words in his grant to my predecessors express.

As it both is, and probably ever was a retired corner, no vestigia of camps, roads, or other Roman antiquities near it, this pavement can hardly be presumed to have been the floor of a praetorium, or a Roman general's tent, as many of them doubtless were.

Will it bear the face of a tolerable conjecture, therefore, that the aforesaid ruins were the foundations of a Roman villa, the retirement perhaps of some inhabitant of Londinum, which is scarce fix miles distant; or of Durolitum, which is hardly three, if Low Leighton be allowed to have been that station?

The soil thereabout is dry and inviting, the opening to the south, and directly opposite to Shooter's-hill in Kent, very agreeable and pleasing. The aforementioned spring or well might perhaps induce the owner to make a walk or garden down to it, and the pavement be of the banqueting-house or room for entertainments, which terminated his view.

That luxuries of this nature were introduced into Britain will not, I believe, be denied, but I fear I go too far with my conjectures and your patience; perhaps the Natale Solum prevails, and the fancy that a situation and country I love was approved as pleasant 1,200 years ago, may be the only foundation of these conjectures. I submit this, and every thing else to your superior judgement, and beg you would suppress or communicate it to the Society, which you think most proper, being, Sir, your most humble servant,

SMART LETHIEULLIER.'

N. B. This letter was read before the Antiquarian Society the 17th of July 1735.

See the Archaeologia, Vol. I-p. 73, for another Letter on the above subject from Mr. Lethieullier to Dr. Lyttelton, wherein this Letter is referred to.

Smart Lethieullier’s second letter on the Roman antiquities at Wanstead

XVIII. A Letter from Smart Lethieullier, Esq; to Dr. Charles Lyttleton relating to some Antiquities found in the County of Essex. Read November 27, 1746:

Part of a letter from Smart Lethieullier to Doctor Charles Lyttleton relating to some Antiquities found in the County of … Essex [SAL/10/10/053 - ‘Part of a Letter from Smart Lethieullier Esq to Doctor Charles Lyttelton relating to some Antiquities found in the County of Essex’ [and] ‘Part of another Letter on the same Subject’. pp.298-302.] Letters dated 27 September 1746 and 13 November 1746. Read 27 November 1746: Minute Book V, p.105 (SAL/02/005/084). Also transcribed in ‘Register Book’, fols.163r-164v (SAL/10/09/56). Printed in Archaeologia, 1 (1770), 73-5. Concerning a Roman pavement and burial site discovered in Wanstead Park, Essex.

Part of a letter from Smart Lethieullier to Doctor Charles Lyttleton relating to some Antiquities found in the County of … Essex

Page 298 In a letter I wrote some years agoe to my very worthy and learned friend Mr. Roger Gale (and which he thought proper to communicate to the Antiquarian Society where I believe a copy of it still remain tho’ I have none myself), I acquainted him that in the year 1715 a Roman Pavement was discovered in Wanstead Park adjoining to my estate, that it was immediately destroyed by Digging holes thro’ it, for Planting an Avenue of Trees, the owner of it haveing no great taste for things of that Nature but from the Account I got from Mr Holt the then surveyor of the works I found that there was the figure of a man on Horseback plainly to be seen in the Centre and with several borders of wreathed work and Ornaments as are usual in these kinds of pavements;

I have several of these Tessera now by me of Diff’rent sizes and coullers made of Brick at the same time these was found a medal of the Emperor VALENS now in my collection and another which is fallen into the hands of Sir Robert Abdy of this county, but of what Emperor I can’t say, haveing never seen it.

From the situation of this pavement as I remember the ground thirty years agoe (tho’ the face of it now is totally changed), viz. upon an easy declivity fronting the south, close by a beautifull Well of bright Water. Not at a small distance from the

Page 299 foundation of a Building which by the nature and size of the bricks I was certain to be Roman. I was induced to believe that this might have been the pavement of a Banquetting House belonging to some Roman Villa by reason of the beauty of the situation, its vicinity to the capital and to the Icening street which I have had the pleasure of shewing you, where it crosses the forest, passes thro’ my Estate and pushes for the passage cross the River Roden now called Ilford tho’ two stone bridges have in more modern times been built there. The medal before mentioned of VALENS shows this place to have been in use in the very later times of the Roman Dominion here – but this idea of it being a place of Mirth or Pleasure has very lately been quite overthrown for Lord Tilney having this summer made considerable Alterations in his park when they came to the spot where this pavement formerly lay the head Workman came to acquaint me that they had discovered many fragments of broaken potts, with divers bones, Teeth, etc. my curiosity quickly carried me to the place, Where I found the fragments of several Urns of different collours but of the coarsest earth inset with many teeth, calcified bones and Burnt Earth, with a great deal of brick and tyles, which undoubtedly had been used in some building there and among them one of those common Roman Coins that has on one side a Head in Armour inscribed URBS ROMA and on the reverse, Romulus and

Page 300 Remus sucking the Wolf under them PSIS which Du Canges reads "Sissice Percussa" the Roman coins found there admit of no hessitations as to what people these Urns belonged and the Number of them being small and the situation near four miles remote from Leyton the Durolitum of Antoninus (as I think there is little room to question) it leaves room to conjecture this might have been the Mausoleum of some private Family whose villa perhaps stood On that more Elevated Situation where Wanstead house now stands.

That this side of our extensive Forest perhaps for a mile or two in Width was very early grub’d of its wood and converted into Culture and Habitations, seems to admit of no dispute, Londinium we know soon became a populous city and under a necessity of a large Supply of fuel which could no where be had nearer than this forest, and I have Observed, that when they came to carry their magnificent roads throughout this Kingdome, they always endeavoured to have an open Country on each side of them; a thing on all Account useful, either for marching of troops, or safety of travellers.

And as that (which, for distinction sake) I’ll call the Southern Icening street) ran evidently very near the present great road from London to Romford and we find Wanstead mentioned as a Lordship confirmed with its Appurtenances by [[Edward]]

Page 301 the Confessor to the Church of Westminster and in Domes day it is said to belong to St. Paul’s there remains no reason to be surprised that Remains of the Romans should be discovered in this Neighbourhood. One difficulty still remains which is to ascertain what period of the Roman government in this Island These Urns can be ascribed to; the Current Opinion is, you know, that Burning ceased with the Antonines, and that Sepulture then took place, but this must evidently be understood to Extend even to the last emperor who took that name, viz. Heliagabalus; and not to be confined to the time of Marcus Aurelius; since, more than 30 years after his deacease, we have a clear Account of the Burning of the Emperor Severus who died at York and the learned Dr. Brown, with very strong Arguments supports his Opinion, that Burning in general did not cease (at least in these distant Provinces) till after the thorough establishment of Christianity, which were it not for tireing your patience I think I could affirm by haveing been an Eye Witness of a discovery where Urns of Pagans and Coffins of Christians, were both togeather in one spott.

Yours, etc. Smart Lethieullier Aldersbrooke 27 September 1746

Page 302 (Part of another letter on the Subject)

As to your communicating my last letter (in relation to the Burying Place in Wanstead Park) to the Society of Antiquarians. can only say, if you think it a proper appendix to a former one communicated by Mr Gale, I have no objection to it, tho’ the familiarity with which it was wrote to a friend, may perhaps make it unworthy of a public audience – I must desire that you would add one perticuler to it, viz. that since I wrote to you I have a Coin of Allectus brought me from the same place

IMP. C. ALLECTVS. P.F. AVG. Re VIRTVS AVG.

The Type, a five oar’d vessel with mast erect, but no saile, this no doubt referred to the fleet that Emperor had in Brittain, and which had indeed been prepared by Carausias his predecessor, But was the chief thing he relied on for his own security, tho’ it availed him very little; it is of a higher date than any of the former Coins found there, as you know this Emperor was slain in the year 297.

Yours, etc. Smart Lethieullier Aldersbrooke November 13 1746

Figure of a man riding upon some beast and holding something in his hands; a similar mosaic from Fishbourne Palace:

Dolphin mosaic Fishbourne Palace

According to Lethieullier, owner of the adjacent Aldersbrook Manor, the pavement "was situated on a gentle gravely ascent towards the north, and at a small distance from the south end of it I remember a well of exceeding fine water, now absorbed in a great pond". Lethieullier's first letter mentions "foundations", which he believed to be Roman, at some distance to the south of the pavement, and on the very edge of the Wanstead estate "about 300 yards due south from the said well and pavement, there were, in my memory, the ruins of foundations to be seen, though now destroyed by planting trees round the park pales". A second letter also mentions the "foundation of a Roman building", "at a small distance" from the site of the pavement. Lethieullier goes on to state that in the summer of 1746 workmen showed him "urns" "of the coarsest earth" and bones they had discovered, which he believed to be the remains of Roman burials, as well as at least three coins.

The exact locations of the Roman remains described by Smart Lethieullier were subsequently lost although Jack Elsden Tuffs undertook further archaeological work during the 1960s. A limited ground-penetrating radar survey was undertaken in February 2007 running north–south to a point just north of the refreshment hut and showed anomalies consistent with the buried foundations of a large masonry building running diagonally across the survey area. What appeared to be at least two rooms were visible which are considered likely to date from the Roman period.

Sources

• Wanstead House and the Parklands - a History, www.wansteadwildlife.org.uk. (June 2010). This article has drawn heavily from this source.
• Cornish, Alan. M.Sc. Wanstead Park - A Chronicle. (Originally published by the Friends of Wanstead Parklands in 1982, updated and republished by Wanstead Parklands Community Project in 2006.)

External links

• City of London website
• Wren Conservation Group
• The Friends of Wanstead Parklands