The Lullingstone Roman Villa, Eynsford, Kent, England

A video about the Roman villa at Lullingstone, Eynsford, Kent in England. This is by far and away the most interesting Roman rural site in Britain and one of the most important Roman villas in the Empire. It has a unique mosaic with a rhyming Latin couplet alluding to Book 1 of Vergil's Aeneid. It is fifty years since I first visited the site and it had a major effect on me. I hope you get a chance to visit it.

[@robmurphy5984]

It’s a privilege to listen to Guy imparting his knowledge . Love his books

[@littleboydesign]

20 years of Time Team and all those specials including the one where TT dug up your son's school yard...you are one cool guy

[@samuelberg9196]

Keep the videos coming Guy! Always enjoyable and enlightening!

[@lisashanley9700]

Thank you Guy. It’s always a treat to watch one of your videos. The information you share and your presenting style immediately draws us in. Please keep them coming!

[@iriswaterford8881]

Alas I will never see this site in person. Thank you for taking us a little closer & giving facts, not fiction.

[@martinarmer240]

Thanks for a wonderful video, Guy. You've inspired me to go and visit the villa when I can.

[@westcommonroom9737]

Thanks once again for a super talk Guy.

[@nebelwerfer199]

This is fantastic Guy thank you.

[@debragillenwater4596]

Thank you for sharing. This was fasinating. I have really enjoyed your videos.

[@kgspvgsp7569]

Love ur content helping me through a lot of tough times. U were my favorite with Mick in TT.

[@amandajstar]

Looking forward to the new book!

[@Quercus52]

As always, a wonderful presentation of fascinating material. Looking forward to getting your up-coming book.

[@user-ic7ww4lo1m]

Thank You !
from Sara (Salem, MA)

[@jhb1493]

Hi Guy, thanks for the great series of lectures - I'm delighted to have found your channel. I do have a question about Roman Villas, so I hope you will see this comment. Two things you mentioned early on in this video came together in my mind - first, you note that the Villas were usually built within a supporting agricultural context, and second that it was hard if not impossible to tell if it was "Romans" building Villas, or Native Briton's "gone Roman". These two things make me wonder if there are examples of sites where a Villa is part of pre-and-post Roman occupation?
In other words, are there Medieval or later buildings that are "built on" preexisting Villas, which themselves appear to have been "built on" even earlier dwellings? The fact that these residential/agricultural centers were built in an environment that supported them makes me think it very likely - how likely is it, and how many (if any) of them are around?
It's fun to think that there may be Elizabethan or other houses occupied continually going right back.

[@matweb8195]

Recommend visiting Lullingstone, interesting place. Some nice pubs scattered around the area as well if you fancy a pint/lunch.

[@MrNas42]

Love Lullingstone, but it was Fishbourne that hooked me into archaeology. It was the sight of mediaeval plough damage to a mosaic that was well over a thousand years older that did it!

[@thomasbernecky2078]

of course, as I'm just starting Gladius? Thanks Guy.

[@littleboydesign]

cheers mate greetings from san francisco bay area😁

[@mercedes523]

I love to recite your name. It just rolls off the tongue. Beautiful!

[@Trapspecial]

Great video Guy and looking forward to your new book.

[@thomashodgkison6180]

Very informative. Makes me want to visit

[@PopularesVox]

Haven't visited this villa and seems well worth a visit if visiting Kent. With a quick look on Google Earth, I'm puzzled by the locality of such a prestigious building though. The area around is certainly good for arable farming and the fields to the east of the site are southward facing slopes with clear views over the River Darent valley. However, the site of the villa in a low lying area very close to the river, seems an unlikely spot to choose, as it must have been relatively damp compared to elsewhere and with no views. I certainly wouldn't have picked that as a site for a large villa, even if drainage was a priority. Does the site contain a spring or did the Romans utilise the River Darent to construct a garden making the river a feature, or could there have even have been a water mill for the grain produced. This area seems fascinating to explore especially as Lullingstone Castle is also situated nearby and rich in history.
The link with the Emperor Pertinax because of the bust find, makes this a very intriguing Roman site indeed. Geographically it's position between London and the Kent coast provides a possibility of a link with those involved in the Roman's rule in Britain, as they may have travelled regularly between both, and are likely at least to have be familiar with it. Lullingstone manor in the Norman period certainly had such powerful connections, with one of its earliest occupants Gregory de Rokesley, serving eight terms as Lord Mayor of London. Whilst the grand house built 1497, was visited regularly by the Lord Deputy of Calais. Henry VIII and Queen Anne.

[@holtonhalesworth1194]

As always, Guy comes at it with a fresh eye and logical argument. So, villas were like farmhouses in more modern times too. Some are just farms forever, some become gentleman farmer homes with posh improvements and some are bought by city folk and turned into big country houses. People don't change.

[@Georgieastra]

Sometimes you can draw inferences from from what is absent as well as what is present.
There doesn't seem to be very much in the way of fortification around this long lasting structure which implies that the inhabitants had a lot of confidence in the ability of the Roman Administration to maintain law and order.

[@allenschmitz9644]

1620 they would try to tax ancient empty stone towns to no avail.