Brading Roman Villa

About the museum

Brading Roman Villa was uncovered in 1879–80, when a retired army officer and a local farmer found the first mosaic while digging on farmland near Brading. News of the discovery spread quickly, and the landowner, Lady Oglander of Nunwell, bought the site. After excavation, a protective building was put up so that visitors could see the remains, and Queen Victoria was among those who came.

The villa developed over about four hundred years. A first range was built around AD 100, soon after the Roman conquest of Britain, followed by a grander range around AD 200. The West Range, completed in the early fourth century, was a high-status winged corridor villa with private rooms for the owner's family and space for entertaining. Its floors were decorated with mosaics showing figures from Roman myth, including Orpheus, Bacchus, Medusa and the unusual cockerel-headed man. Nobody knows who the owners were.

The site was flooded in January 1994, when the floors lay under water contaminated by agricultural fertiliser. The old cover building was judged unfit, and a grant paid for a new building over the remains. The visitor centre opened in 2004 and the mosaics gradually dried out. Excavations between 2008 and 2010 re-examined the earlier North and South Ranges, whose outlines are now marked in chalk outside.

Today the museum is run by Brading Roman Villa Trust, a registered charity. It shows the mosaics in place, together with archaeological finds that take visitors from prehistory to the present day.

Highlights

• West Range of a fourth-century Roman villa under cover
• Mosaic floors in their original positions, including Orpheus, Bacchus and Medusa
• The unique cockerel-headed man mosaic
• Roman finds and the story of the Victorian discovery
• Chalk outlines of the earlier North and South Ranges outside

Permanent exhibition

• Roman villa and mosaics – The preserved West Range of the villa, with mosaic floors still in place and finds from the site and the island.

Operated by

Brading Roman Villa Trust

Admission & discounts

Every ticket is a pay-once, visit-all-year ticket that allows unlimited visits for 12 months from the date of purchase. Tickets are non-transferable, and adults may be asked for photo ID on return visits. Friends of Brading Roman Villa, Museum Association members and Association for Roman Archaeology members visit free on showing their card. Some special events and exhibitions cost extra. Prices shown are standard admission without Gift Aid.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum, shop and café are accessible. The outside grounds are a rural mix of stone, gravel and uneven earth paths. Museum wheelchairs can be borrowed and are used at the visitor's own risk. Assistance dogs are allowed throughout the buildings. The conference room has an induction loop.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

There is a family ticket, and the museum runs family events and arts and crafts workshops, which are listed on its What's On page. School workshops include object handling and archaeology activities.

Getting there & parking

For sat nav use postcode PO36 0EN. The museum's postal address is Morton Old Road, Brading, PO36 0PH.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The café serves food and drinks with takeaway options and outside seating; last hot food orders are at 14:30. Dogs are welcome in the grounds on short leads but not inside the museum, visitor centre or café. The site is no smoking and no vaping.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies: not available

Up to 40 guests.

The wheelchair-accessible Garfield-Weston Room (6 m by 10 m) holds 40 people theatre style or 30 classroom or boardroom style. Catering and a villa tour can be added. The museum says it cannot currently host weddings.

Plan your visit