Kings Weston Roman Villa, Long Cross, Bristol. Archaeological Monitoring and Recording

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by Bristol City Council ('the client'), to undertake archaeological monitoring and recording during fencing and utility works. The monitored works were centred on NGR 353350 177540, at Kings Weston Roman Villa, Long Cross, Lawrence Weston, Bristol BS11 0LP. The archaeological monitoring and recording was undertaken between 04 and 10 June 2025. The archaeological works identified a number of archaeological features and deposits within the site; these were encountered in eight excavated trenches/postholes (Postholes 2, 3, 8 & 13, Trenches 14, 23, 24 & 25), indicating substantial structural archaeological remains are present, especially within the western portion of the site. Postholes 1, 4-7, 9-13 and 15-22 were archaeologically sterile. The uncovered features comprised wall foundations, occupation layers, stone rubble layers, a pit, made ground and a stone structure of uncertain function, representing two periods of activity, Romano-British and post-medieval/modern. Limited evidence for medieval activity in the vicinity was indicated by a few sherds of residual pottery recovered from the subsoil. A few medieval sherds, considered to be of 14th century date and related to the stone-robbing of the villa buildings, were also recovered during the earlier excavations in the 1940's. Romano-British The Romano-British activity relates to the villa that is known to have occupied the site from the end of the 3rd century AD until the mid-4th century and was evidenced by a rubble layer overlain by two occupation layers in Trench 24, which had subsequently been cut through by the foundation trench for a limestone wall. A further limestone wall was revealed in Trench 25 and was butted by a rubble deposit thought to represent the wall's collapse or demolition. An undated stone structure revealed in the base of Posthole 8 is probably also contemporary and related to the villa. A number of other rubble deposits containing Romano-British artefacts were encountered in Trenches 14 and 23. However, the inclusion of post-medieval and modern material, suggest these are not in-situ, and may represent spoil from the archaeological excavations undertaken in the 1940's. Further residual Romano-British artefacts were encountered across the site in the subsoil and topsoil horizons. Post-medieval/Modern No clearly post-medieval features or deposits were encountered although utilisation of the site during this period is clearly evidenced by artefacts including pottery and CBM recovered from various made ground, subsoil and topsoil deposits. Modern made ground was encountered in Postholes 2, 3 and 13 and probably relates to recent landscaping of the site for the museum which currently occupies the site. A modern rubbish pit was also revealed in Trench 14 cutting through the topsoil.