Roman villa immediately east of Horkstow Hall

Horkstow Roman villa lies in fields just east of Horkstow Hall in North Lincolnshire. The remains were first noticed in 1797 when labourers uncovered a large mosaic floor. A geophysical survey in 1987 showed walls and other structures between the mosaic site and the hall, though the full plan of the villa remains hidden. Excavations have revealed parts of the building but many areas still lie buried. The villa once stood on gentle farmland close to the River Humber. Its location was chosen for fertile soil and a sheltered position. The villa is famous for its three mosaic floors, once kept on site until 1927. In that year the Orpheus panel was moved to the British Museum. In 1976 the mosaics were transferred to Hull and East Riding Museum where they can still be seen. The Orpheus mosaic shows the mythical singer surrounded by animals. A second panel, called the ‘painted ceiling’, shows scenes from classical myths. The third panel depicts a Roman chariot race in detail. Visitors today walk over grassy mounds that mark the buried walls. Information boards explain the layout and the stories told by the mosaics. The site is quiet, with views across flat fields to Horkstow Hall. A short path leads from the road to the remains. The mosaics themselves are no longer on site but their story is told where they once lay. The villa’s hidden corners invite exploration and imagination.