Bignor Roman Villa

Bignor Roman Villa is a large Roman courtyard villa which has been excavated and put on public display on the Bignor estate in the English county of West Sussex [1]. It is well known for its high quality mosaic floors, which are some of the most complete and intricate in the country [1]. The existence of a Romano-British farmstead on the site by the end of the 1st century is indicated by finds, but the earliest structural remains are of a simple timber farm structure dating to around 190 AD [1]. A four-roomed stone building was built in the middle of the 3rd century AD, and this was extended between c.240 and 290 AD by the addition of a few new rooms, a hypocaust, and a portico that faced east towards Stane Street [1]. This building became the western wing when north and south wings were added at the turn of the fourth century [1]. In its final form, the villa consisted of some sixty-five rooms surrounding a courtyard [1]. The latest phase of building involved additions to the north wing between c.300 and 350 AD, and it is here that most of the fine mosaics are located [1].