In 1727–1728 William George discovered the Orpheus mosaic whilst digging post-holes, and it was reported as "the finest pavement that the sun ever shone upon in England".

At its height, the villa had around sixty rooms, two thermal bath suites, many mosaic floors and several heated hypocausts.

This mosaic is usually interpreted in very complicated pagan religious terms involving not only Orpheus, but Bacchus and Apollo, the hall being seen as a cult centre for these two gods.

The settlement began life as a small short-lived military establishment guarding a road crossing of the River Kennet.

[4] From 70 AD the road was still used and the site passed to local ownership with circular huts and in 120 a Roman-style rectangular timber building replaced them (the West Range).

At Littlecote, in 360, the barn-like part was converted into a courtyard, and the triconch hall was built alongside, with its own elaborate bath suite.

Many of the buildings were demolished or fell into decay around 400, shortly after the Theodosian legislation against paganism and before the Roman withdrawal from Britain.