Our first visit in the new season takes us back in time to an ancient site that that lay undiscovered for almost 2,000 years and is regarded as one of West Sussex’s hidden gems.
Bignor Roman Villa in the heart of the South Downs National Park was a large courtyard villa and contains some of the finest and best-preserved Roman mosaics in the country, all in situ and under cover.
In its heyday in the second century AD, the villa encompassed 70 buildings spread over four acres and was a rich working farm. Its location close to Stane Street, linking Chichester and London, was ideal. The ruins of the villa were only discovered in 1811 by a farmer, George Tupper, who unearthed the famous Ganymede mosaic while ploughing his land. Further excavations followed and the mosaics became a popular tourist attraction. But work ceased in 1819; thatched barns were built over the mosaic floors to protect them and the site lay dormant for another 150 years.
Today the land is still farmed by the Tupper family, who are proud custodians of this remarkable site. Lisa Tupper, who represents the fifth generation of the family, will be there to greet us on arrival.
We will have a one-hour guided tour of the villa and time to explore the site before we set off for the nearby Weald & Downland Living Museum.
This open-air museum was launched in 1967 with the aim of conserving the past, keeping heritage crafts alive, promoting lifelong learning and training the conservation experts of the future. Today it features more than 50 buildings dating back to the Middle Ages that were rescued from destruction, dismantled and rebuilt exactly on site to represent almost 1,000 years of rural life in southeast England. There are also demonstrations of traditional crafts and farming practices down the ages and wonderful displays in the historic gardens.
One of the highlights of the day will be a guided tour of the museum’s award-winning Downland Gridshell Building. With its innovative, lightweight structure made of oak laths, it was the first building of its kind to be constructed in the UK. The upper deck is the museum’s conservation workshop and training space, while the lower level houses the museum’s collections of tools and artefacts from rural life in the Weald and Downland region.
The museum is also a centre of learning and a leading provider of specialist education and training, including MSc degree programmes in Building Conservation and Timber Building Conservation.
A perfect location, therefore, for the BBC’s Repair Shop, which sadly is not open to the public!
To gain an impression of the stunning design of the Gridshell building and the technical challenges it posed to the architects, engineers and carpenters alike, click here
For more information about the two museums, please visit:
https://www.bignorromanvilla.co.uk/
Proposed programme for the day (all times are guidelines):
9.00 Depart Hop Oast
9.45-10.00 Arrive Bignor, welcome tea/coffee
10.15 Guided tour of villa & mosaics (1 hour)
12.15 Transfer to Weald & Downland Living Museum
12.45 Time to have lunch/picnic + explore the museum
2.15 Guided tour of Gridshell Building
3.00–4.30 Free time
4.30 Coach departs for home
5.30 Arrive Horsham
Cost: £48.50 pp. Trip includes coach & gratuity, entry to Bignor + welcome tea/coffee + guided tour as well as entry to Weald & Downland Living Museum + guided tour of the Gridshell Building.
