Horkstow Roman Villa

Horkstow Roman Villa is an ancient site in Horkstow containing excavated remains of a residential complex from Roman times. The location features mosaic work with three distinct decorative panels that once adorned a wealthy household.

Workers discovered the villa in 1797 while preparing a kitchen garden, uncovering a substantial mosaic from the fourth century. The find demonstrates how Roman settlement extended into this part of Britain during the imperial period.

The mosaic panels show scenes from classical mythology, including depictions of Orpheus, which reveal how Roman artistic traditions took root in Britain. These images speak to a wealthy household that valued imperial culture.

The original mosaics are now housed in the Hull and East Riding Museum, where you can examine their details in a controlled environment. A museum visit provides the best way to understand what once existed at the site itself.

Geophysical surveys from 1987 suggested additional buildings lay beneath the surface, yet remain largely unexplored to this day. These hidden structures could reveal much more about daily life in this Roman settlement.