Reasons for Designation
"Banjo" enclosures are lightly defended settlement sites of the
middle Iron Age (400-100BC), some being occupied as late as the Roman
Conquest. They are rare nationally with a distribution centred on,
and largely confined to, Wessex where they form a significant and
distinctive element of the later prehistoric landscape.
Villas were an important component of the Roman-British landscape,
representing the most Romanised form of farmstead, and ranging in
date from the first to the fourth centuries AD. They usually comprise
a well-appointed dwelling house together with agricultural
outbuildings and related enclosures and ancillary structures.
The significance of the Woodham Farm site is considerably enhanced by
the association of the Iron Age enclosure, a broadly contemporary
field system and Romano-British villa complex, providing an
opportunity to understand changing settlement patterns over a
considerable time.
Details
The monument includes an Iron Age enclosure, identified as a "banjo"
enclosure, an associated field system and a Romano-British villa
complex situated 500m east of Woodham Farm. The field system
comprises three cultivation terraces which follow the contours of the
dry valley in which the villa complex is situated. The westernmost of
the terraces adjoins the circular "banjo" enclosure. Partial
excavations in 1925 revealed one of a group of four buildings and
related enclosures. This included a pillared hypocaust and five or
six other rooms, two of which have tesellated floors.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
12049
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals Other
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
