Remains of a Ro villa were discovered in May 1870 during the erection of St Helen's Church in a field known as the Manor Field. The principal room excavated was 20ft in length N-S, by 17ft width. Close to the S end, on the W side, was the entrance marked by a step down and a threshold; at this end appears to have been the gangway across the room, the pattern of the floor being a chequer of 12in squares, red and grey alternately ... also a tesselated pavement, and a projection with rounded corners, perhaps an altar. Another paved room was found parallel with the above, but with its floor 2.5ft lower the former's level. The soil here showed abundant traces of charred wood, and fragments of coloured plaster, roofing tiles etc. A third room without a pavement, other walls which were partly traced and a rough trough formed of slabs of stone filled with a hardened mass of lime were also found. The excavated area was filled in but the site is probably much more extensive than the remains then uncovered. (1)
The site is now occupied by the Presbytery and Roman Catholic chapel and grounds. About 2 sq yds of good quality tesselated pavement visible with a border in red on white ground. This seemed to be the edge of a central panel extending towards the church and parallel to the Presbytery. An area of coarse tile/tesserae is visible extending in the other direction and may be part of a corridor. (5)
Tesellated pavement recently uncovered during casual excavation in the garden of the manse (SK 59118856). It was formerly exposed a few metres to the N and E but this has been backfilled. The pavement lies c 6in below the ground surface beneath a layer of modern brick rubble etc. It consists of red and white tesserae patterned in squares and scrolls and bordered to the N by larger white tessearae. No further information was gained on the original find at the site of the church - SK 59098853. (6)
The priest at St Helen's states that the church will not permit further investigation/excavation of this villa for 50 years. The published site now falls under pasture and garden. (7)
Nothing visible in the garden today. (8)
Nothing visible now, all part of the Presbytery garden. (9)
The field contains a range of complex earthworks in the western part, close to the parish church, some of which might well be of Ro origin. (10)
Along the N verge of Blyth Road, the discovery of a Romano-British ditch cutting through stratified deposits suggest the archaeological resource surrounding the known villa buildings is both relatively well preserved and more extensive than previously known. (11)
See L5971 for coin, L6115 for earthworks.

Data Held (Document). SNT2647.

OS card, Parish File

Data Held: Ground Photograph (Ground photograph). SNT2646.

2 colour print, B50/7, SMR

<1> Royal Arch Institute, 1871, Archaeological Journal, pp 66-7 (Published document). SNT101.

<2> Nottm Guardian, 23/02/1877, Nottm Guardian (Published document). SNT259.

<3> VCH, 1910, Notts, pp 34-5 (Published document). SNT1384.

<4> Thoroton Society, 1954, TTS, p 5 (Published document). SNT368.

<5> RRM, 1958, AM7 (Unpublished document). SNT1214.

<6> Wardale CF, 1959, Pers Comm (Personal comment). SNT1394.

<7> Colquhoun FD, 1974, Pers Comm (Personal comment). SNT582.

<8> Hart CR, 1984, AM107 (Unpublished document). SNT754.

<9> Samuels JR, 1985, AM107 (Unpublished document). SNT1230.

<10> TPAT, 1994, Village Earthwork Survey I (Published document). SNT1359.

<11> TPAT, May 1996, Report on the Archaeological Watching Brief Conducted at Blyth Road, Oldcotes, Nottinghamshire, p 5 (Unpublished document). SNT2209.