Great Wymondley

A village near Hitchin in Hertfordshire containing two scheduled ancient monuments. Wymondley Roman Villa, near Ninesprings in the River Purwell valley, was partly excavated in 1884, revealing rooms heated by hypocaust, though recent scholarship suggests the remains may be a bathhouse rather than a villa. The site showed evidence of post-Roman squatter occupation. Wymondley Castle, a motte-and-bailey fortress east of St Mary's Church, was possibly built by the Norman Argentein family during the Anarchy of 1138-1153. The castle's rectangular enclosure may date to Roman times, as evidence of Roman occupation has been found at the site.