Rockbourne Roman Villa

About

The museum reopens on Saturday 6th April 2019 for the summer season.

Rockbourne Roman Villa is a unique archaeological site and museum, situated in a peaceful part of Hampshire near the historic town of Fordingbridge, on the edge of the New Forest.

Here you can walk amongst the remains of the largest known villa complex in the area, which once stood in the centre of a large farming estate. Its history spans the period from the Iron Age to the 5th century AD. The villa site includes the remains of bath houses, living quarters, farm buildings and workshops.

You can also see the best preserved of the mosaics discovered here, as well as part of the underfloor heating system and the outline of the villa's forty rooms. Many of the finds from the site are displayed thematically in the museum and tell the story of what life was like in this fascinating place. Outside, information boards guide you around the site and there is a family friendly trail that accompanies them.

Inside the museum, you will see and learn about the excavated finds from the site. Together, this collection of artefacts offers a look into what life was like for people living in the villa over a 400 year period. Guide books are on sale and there are always activities for children, from dressing up to simple make and take activities.

The museum also has a small shop and sells hot and cold drinks, as well as New Forest ice cream. Car parking is free and dogs on leads are allowed onto the site. The museum is also fully accessible, however, please note the archaeological site is a grassed area and some uneven ground.

The museum closes for the winter at the end of September.