Lydney Park

Lydney Park in Gloucestershire contains a late Roman temple complex built after AD 364 atop an Iron Age hillfort. The rectangular temple, measuring 80 by 60 feet, was dedicated to Nodens, a Celtic healing and hunting deity linked to the Welsh Lludd and Irish Nuada. Excavations by Mortimer Wheeler in 1928-29 uncovered over 8,000 coins, nine dog figurines associated with healing rituals, and mosaic floors depicting sea creatures. The complex included a bath suite with hypocaust heating and a large guest house for pilgrims. J.R.R. Tolkien contributed a philological appendix on the name 'Nodens' to Wheeler's excavation report.