Rockbourne Roman Villa

About the museum

Rockbourne Roman Villa lies on the edge of the New Forest, near Fordingbridge in Hampshire. It is the largest known villa complex in the area and once stood at the centre of a large farming estate. Its history runs from the Iron Age to the 5th century AD. The site includes the remains of bath houses, living quarters, farm buildings and workshops, with the outline of about forty rooms.

The villa was found by chance in 1942, when a farmer's dog digging out a ferret in a field on West Park Farm brought up oyster shells and small mosaic tiles. The local antiquarian Morley Hewitt recognised their importance and bought the land, and excavations went on for about 30 years. Two of the surviving mosaics are on public view, together with part of the hypocaust, the underfloor heating system that warmed a luxurious bath suite.

The museum on the site shows the finds by theme. They include a hoard of 7,717 coins, of which 493 are displayed in the pot in which they were buried, and the skeleton of an adult found face down in a shallow grave in 1965. A replica of the Breamore bucket, a Byzantine brass bucket found nearby in 1999 that pointed to an unknown early Anglo-Saxon cemetery, is also on show. The site is run by Hampshire Cultural Trust.

Highlights

• Remains of the largest known Roman villa complex in the area
• Best-preserved mosaic and part of the hypocaust
• Hoard of 7,717 coins, with 493 on display in the original pot
• Skeleton found in 1965 outside the dining room
• Replica of the Breamore bucket

Permanent exhibitions

• Roman villa remains and mosaic – Walk among the remains of baths, living quarters and workshops and see the best-preserved mosaic and part of the underfloor heating.
• Museum finds – Finds displayed by theme, including the coin hoard, the skeleton and a replica of the Breamore bucket.

Operated by

Hampshire Cultural Trust

Admission & discounts

One ticket allows unlimited visits for a whole year ("pay once, visit all year"). The trust is a charity and offers Gift Aid.

Accessibility

• Partially 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

Ramps give access to view the villa remains, but the site is largely grass with no paths and the ground is uneven, so wheelchair use may be difficult. Disabled access, toilets and baby change are listed among the facilities. Guide dogs are allowed.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities

Children can dress up as a Roman soldier and handle real Roman artefacts in the museum. There is a family-friendly trail with the information boards and an activity sheet for making a mosaic to take home, and craft activities and special events are held in the school holidays.

Getting there & parking

The address is rural, so visitors should use the postcode SP6 3PG in the satnav. The site is near Fordingbridge, on the edge of the New Forest.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

There is a museum shop and a picnic and eating area. Dogs are welcome on leads in the grounds but not in the museum; waste bags are provided but there is no waste disposal on site.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit