Roman settlement and associated industrial remains and field system north-east of Winthill Farm

Reasons for Designation

The site at Winthill Farm is an example of a small Roman lead mining settlement with associated agricultural remains. Such sites are a rare occurrence nationally though several are known to exist in the area in and immediately surrounding the Mendip Hills. Lead mining was an important aspect of the Roman economy: lead and tin were alloyed with copper to make bronze, or with each other for pewter or solder. Lead on its own was invaluable for sealing roofs or water tanks, and for making pipes for use in the construction of water supply systems and baths. The area in and around the Mendip Hills is important for understanding the role of industrial processes in the Roman economy. Sites such as that at Winthill Farm are particularly valuable as they survive in the form of earthwork remains and are known from previous partial excavation to contain archaeological evidence relating to the site's occupation and use.

Details

The monument includes a series of well-defined earthworks and building platforms which represent a Roman settlement comprising a centrally placed structure 10m square, its associated industrial remains, and a field system, situated on a steep south-facing slope overlooking the Lox Yeo River. A coin hoard dating to the middle of the fourth century AD was recovered from beneath the stone floor slabs of the structure during partial excavation in 1950, confirming a Roman date. A large quantity of Roman pottery and further coins dating from the mid fourth century have also been recovered from the area of the site in addition to a rare inscribed Rhenish glass bowl and evidence for industrial and agricultural activity. Earthworks surrounding the settlement include a series of terraces cut into the hillside, providing levelled areas used for building platforms. Also surrounding the settlement is a series of clearly defined field boundaries and lynchets, some of the lynchets standing to a height of c.0.5m. The modern field boundaries in the south and east of the monument are likely to follow the courses of earlier Roman boundaries, as pottery dating from AD 40-80 has been recovered from one of the lynchets, demonstrating its early origins. A large linear quarry or lead rake running north-south through the centre of the monument immediately west of the settlement, together with excavated evidence for metal smelting, suggests that industrial activity was important here and may have been the main function of the settlement. Burials from the site have been variously described as Roman and medieval. In view of the strong Roman connection for the settlement, a Roman date for these features is believed most likely. The free standing wall is excluded from the scheduling although the ground beneath it is included.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

22814

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Hunt, J E, Journal of Axbridge Caving Gp Archaeol Soc in Excavations at Winthill 1954-56, Vol. 3(ii), (1957), 5
Hunt, J E, Journal of the Axbridge Caving Gp Archaeol Soc in Excavations at Winthill, Somerset, Vol. 3(ii), (1957), 5

Other
Results of excavations, Results of excavations,
Details of results of excavations, Details of results of excavations,

End of official list entry

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