With it’s painted walls, mosaics, and high society surroundings it speaks of the rich in Roman Britain.

Tucked away in the wooded hills of the Cotswolds, Chedworth Roman Villa is one of the finest and most extensive Roman villa sites in Britain.

First built in the early 2nd century, it was expanded and occupied well into the 5th century, long after Roman rule officially ended.

The sheer scale and sophistication of the villa suggest it was home to one of the richest and most influential families in Roman Britain…possibly a senior local magistrate or retired imperial official.

The mosaics still visible today…many beautifully preserved in situ…include both geometric designs and figurative scenes.

Floors were laid in intricate patterns using small, coloured tiles (tesserae), while the wall panels were painted in strong Roman colours…deep reds, ochres, greens, and blacks, echoing the styles seen in villas across the Roman Empire.

Chedworth also boasted all the luxuries of a Roman elite household…a hypocaust heating system, private bathhouses, a water shrine, and evidence of imported goods like wine and olive oil.

It wasn’t just a home…it was a statement of power, culture, and Roman identity.

Chedworth is more than just a ruin…it’s a window into a time when the Cotswolds echoed with Latin, mosaics glittered under candlelight, and Britain was Rome’s most northwesterly frontier of comfort and civilisation.