Rutland Roman villa complex features ‘first barn conversion’ boasting steam room and plunge pool

Most of us have to make do with a simple shower or bath when we want to have a wash. 

But new findings have revealed how the inhabitants of a Roman villa complex unearthed in Rutland, East Midlands, had access to a bathing suite that included a steam room and plunge pool.

The facilities were discovered in what is believed to have been one of Britain’s earliest barn conversions, experts announced this week. 

The new findings were made by University of Leicester archaeologists at the same site where a 1,500-year-old mosaic depiction of Homer’s Iliad was found by a walker in 2020. 

Experts have been working at the site, which dates from between the third and fourth centuries AD, in recent months – after the mosaic find was reported by outlets including MailOnline in November last year.

The converted barn may have had two storeys and boasted ‘sophisticated’ underfloor heating, although the standout features were its sauna and cold plunge pool. 

The complex also had a Tepidarium – or ‘medium heat room’, which was where the villa’s wealthy residents would have scraped their skin with a metal tool known as a ‘strigil’. 

The Leicester University archaeologists were working in partnership with Historic England and Rutland County Council.

Historic England contributed £193,000 to fund this year’s excavation work.

The initial discovery of the mosaic was made by the son of local landowner Brian Naylor when he was out walking during the first coronavirus lockdown in 2020.

Experts were only able to examine the site in detail last year due to the pandemic.

What is believed to be a converted barn is similar in size to a small church. 

It was originally made of wood but was converted to stone in third or fourth century AD. 

It had a completed sequence of internal walls, demonstrating the fact that it had been in use for a long period of time and had undergone a series of changes. 

As well as the bath suite, the experts have found evidence of a water tank that could have been used to collect water from the structure’s roof. 

The bath suite consisted of a caldarium (sauna); the tepidarium and finally the frigidarium (cold room), where the pool was located. 

The heating system may have even been able to maintain varying desired temperatures.

The experts however cannot say whether the owners were Rutland natives or from overseas. 

But they were making lifestyle choices to associate themselves culturally with the Roman Empire. 

The remains of the mosaic, which measures approximately 31 feet by 21 feet, are the first in the UK and one of only a handful in the world to depict the Ancient Greek poet Homer’s story about hero Achilles and his battle with Hector at the conclusion of the Trojan War.

The mosaic once formed the floor of a room in a large Roman villa.

The experts’ work this year has led them to believe that the mosaic was laid out in a dining room (known as a triclinium).

Painted wall plaster, fragments of polished marble and broken stone columns hint at the grand decoration in the room to accompany the mosaic.

The decor used some imported material, indicating the considerable wealth and influence of the villa’s owners.

The dining room was a later addition to the main villa building, suggesting that the owners wanted to show off their wealth and knowledge of Roman culture by building a new area for feasting.

Further mosaics that now no longer exist would have graced the corridors leading to the dining room 

Human remains were also found at the site, which is believed to have once been the home of a wealthy person who had knowledge of classical literature.

The mosaic discovery was described as the most exciting of its kind in the UK in the last 100 years. 

Mosaics were often used in both private and public buildings across the Roman Empire, which Britain was part of from AD 43 until AD 410.

Whilst mosaics often featured figures from history and mythology, the one in Rutland is unique because of its depiction of Homer’s classic work.

Fire damage and breaks in the mosaic suggest that the site was later re-used or repurposed. 

The human remains which were found are believed to have been buried after the building was no longer occupied.

They are believed to date from the very late Roman or early Medieval periods.

Homer’s Iliad is often considered to be the oldest surviving work of Western literature.

It is set during the Trojan War and its central figure is Achilles.

The story sees Achilles, regarded as the greatest of all the Greek warriors, engage in a fierce argument with King Agamemnon.

Achilles withdraws from the battle after he is dishonoured by the king.

The Greek armies are hit by a plague sent by the god Apollo after Agamemnon takes the daughter of a priest of Apollo and refuses to return her.

Achilles later returns to the fold and famously kills Hector, the Prince of Troy, in front of the city gates.

Achilles is later killed by Hector’s brother, Paris, who shoots the warrior in the heel with an arrow.

That moment has been immortalised in modern day language with reference to an ‘Achilles heel’ meaning a point of weakness.

Historic England’s Chief Executive, Duncan Wilson, said: ‘This is a fascinating site and has posed many questions about life in Roman Britain. 

‘The answers will become clearer as the evidence is examined over the next few years by a team of specialists, and their work will help us understand the story of this villa complex, and its significance for our understanding of Roman Britain.’

John Thomas, Deputy Director of ULAS and Project Manager of ULAS excavations, said: ‘It’s difficult to overstate the significance of this Roman villa complex to our understanding of life in late Roman Britain. 

‘While previous excavations of individual buildings, or smaller scale villas, have given us a snapshot, this discovery in Rutland is much more complete and provides a clearer picture of the whole complex.’