[1] The site was discovered in 1854 on land owned by the Lady Elizabeth Hastings Charities and excavated by F Carroll in 1855.

[2] These initial excavations located two buildings with hypocausts and the Medusa mosaic.

The modern excavations discovered an Iron Age site beneath the Roman villa.

The villa was constructed in the 3rd-century AD, though some evidence suggests 2nd-century activity at the site as well.

[1] The large mosaic depicting the Medusa was transferred to the Yorkshire Museum, where it was on display by 1881 in the Hospitium.