Gadebridge Park Roman Villa

Gadebridge Park Roman Villa
Site of Gadebridge Roman Villa
Location within Hertfordshire
General information
Architectural style	classical
Location	Hemel Hempstead grid reference TL049087
Country	United Kingdom
Coordinates	51°46′02″N0°28′52″W / 51.7672°N 0.4811°W / 51.7672; -0.4811
Construction started	1st century
Demolished	c. 350

Gadebridge Roman Villa, alternatively known as Gadebridge Park Roman Villa, is a ruined Roman villa in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England.

Excavation

A chance discovery in 1962, it was excavated in 1963-68 under the direction of David S. Neal. A second excavation took place in 2000, also under the direction of Dr Neal. ^[1]

History

The site may have begun as a pre Roman farm, but after the Roman invasion of AD 43 its proximity to the Roman city of Verulamium seems to have precipitated its development into a sort of spa and resort. From the Antonine Period, c. 138 AD, stone buildings were added, and around 300 AD a large swimming pool, the biggest in Roman Britain after the one at Bath were built. ^{[2] [3]}

The site may have been leveled around AD 350 possibly because of its owner's support for the usurper emperor Magnentius. It returned to agricultural use and was used for cattle pens. ^[4]

Conservation

The villa is situated in Gadebridge Park. Since the excavations the site has been scheduled and is under grassland. ^[5]

Artefacts from the villa are held by the Dacorum Heritage Trust. ^[2]

References

1. "Gadebridge Revisited: Excavations on the Roman Villa 2000". Cambridge University Press. 21 April 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
2. "The Gadebridge Roman Villa". www.dacorumheritage.org.uk. The Dacorum Heritage Trust Ltd. Archived from the original on 6 February 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
3. Yaxley (1973), pp. 17–22
4. "Discover how Dacorum's largest Roman Villa evolved". Our Dacorum. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
5. Historic England. "Gadebridge Roman Villa (1015577)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 1 January 2014.

Sources

• Gadebridge Roman Villa Dacorum Heritage Trust, Accessed March 2012
• Gadebridge Roman Villa St Albans Museums, Accessed March 2012
• Neal, David S. (1974). The excavation of the Roman villa in Gadebridge Park, Hemel Hempstead, 1963-8 (Reports of the Research Committee of the Society of Antiquaries of London, 31)
• Yaxley, Susan; others (1981) [1973]. History of Hemel Hempstead. Amplion Press: Hemel Hempstead Local History and Records Society. ISBN   0-9502743-0-5.
• Discover how Dacorum's largest Roman villa evolved 'Our Dacorum', Herts Memories Network. Accessed March 2012