Rutland Roman villa

[2] A geophysical survey of the site in 2021 showed evidence of a large villa complex including indications of a formal garden, a bath house, perhaps a chapel and two mausolea.

[1] In 2020 (during the COVID-19 pandemic in England), Jim Irvine, the son of the landowner, identified some "unusual pottery" whilst walking through the site and dug a small trench.

[2] Historic England subsequently funded an urgent excavation of the site by University of Leicester Archaeological Service in August 2020.

A geophysical survey has shown it comprises at least seven buildings, including the main residential villa, all enclosed by a series of ditches.

The dining room with the Hector mosaic was a later addition to the main villa for public feasting, suggesting that the owners wanted to impress with their wealth and Roman culture.