Catherine Downes

[1] Downes is a significant figure in the early history of archaeology, since she was one of the first women antiquarians to excavate a Roman site; the other was Frances Stackhouse Acton.

[1] Downes is also one of the earliest recorded women who contributed to the work of the Society of Antiquaries of London.

[2] Downes initially learnt of the find by a farmworker through an article in the Salisbury Journal, she then employed an assistant and gained permission to excavate.

[3] The site was located at a place called Pit Mead, just outside Warminster, on land owned by Lord Weymouth.

[2] It was accompanied by her illustrations of pavements and finds from the villa, which were later engraved by James Basire and published in Vetusta Monumenta.