The Story of the Rudston Mosaics
The Roman villa near Rudston, East Yorkshire, first came to light in 1838 when walls, roofing tiles, wall plaster and the remains of a mosaic floor were found by farm workers. Unfortunately most of the pavement was destroyed by the same workers -- they dug it up in the hope of finding treasure! #SUBHEADING#Unusual harvest#SUBHEADINGEND# In 1933, the owner and farmer of the land Mr. H. Robson hit the Venus Mosaic while ploughing to the south of the Kilham-Rudston road. Over the next few months he found and exposed the Swastika Mosaic and Aquatic Mosaic that paved other rooms in the building. Mr. Robson built a shed over the mosaics and opened it to the public. Unfortunately by the early 1960's it was clear that the mosaics could no longer stay in the ground. Frost damage was having a serious effect on all three mosaics and the exposed chalk walls were quickly deteriorating. It was agreed that the mosaics should be lifted and removed to Hull Museums. They have been on display in the Hull and East Riding Museum since 1963. You can learn more about how the mosaics were lifted by clicking here (Lifting Mosaics). The building found by Mr. Robson has been subsequently named 'Building 1'. In the 4th century it consisted of three ranges of buildings round a courtyard. Those on the eastern side contained domestic quarters and a bath-suite. This was where the three mosaics, the Venus, Aquatic and Swastika mosaics, were found. The other two sides of the courtyard contained farm buildings and workshops. #SUBHEADING#A long history#SUBHEADINGEND# This was not the first building on the site. Pre-dating the 4th century building were ranges of stone-built structures dating to earlier in the Roman period, and before that there had been circular huts and linear ditches from late Iron Age. So what had been a native Iron Age farm had been transformed during the years of the Roman occupation into a large prosperous villa. By the late 3rd or early 4th century this was successful enough for the owners to be able to equip it with hypocausts (under-floor heating) and expensive mosaics. #SUBHEADING#Not more mosaics!#SUBHEADINGEND# In 1971 a trial excavation was carried out to the north of the Kilham - Rudston road in the hope of finds more outbuildings connected with Building 1. What the team found was far more exciting. The new building is known as Building 8 and contained The Charioteer Mosaic (and its accompanying Leopards Panel) along with two other mosaics, one of which had been badly damaged by 19th century pipe-laying. The number of fine mosaics and wall-plaster in these two buildings makes Rudston one of the very best equipped villas known in the north of England.
