Frank Gardiner - Gorhambury Villa c. AD 180.

[not our collections]

Reconstruction of Gorhambury Roman villa c. AD 180. The arrival of the Romans in Britain saw an increase in food production, both to feed tha growing urban populations and to pay taxes to the Roman state. The villa system provided a means by which this increased production was achieved. Villas grew up at regular intervals along the fertile valleys of several rivers in the Verulamium region, for example the reconstructed villa seen here at Gorhambury, near the River Ver. Villa complexes usually had a house, barns, granaries, grain driers, field systems and extensive woodland. They produced not only food but also processed animal products such as leather and wool. Some villas were built on the site of, or close to, pre-Roman farmsteads, suggesting that prosperous native farmers were quick to adopt Roman lifestyles.

33_SL0597gorhambury.tif

135 transparency

Amy Cooke

Not our copyright.

Gorhambury Villa, near the Roman City of Verulamium (near present day St Albans).

11/10/2007