Background Note on the Brading Roman Villa, Isle of Wight

The Brading Roman Villa, formerly in the ownership of the Oglander family of Nunwell, is now owned by the Oglander Roman Trust, an independent charitable trust set up in 1996, with an able team of trustees with experience in archaeology, public administration, politics, the professions and commerce. All of the trustees are personally and enthusiastically committed to the project and are working within the terms of a robust and realistic business plan, designed to ensure the sustainability of the villa as a visitor attraction after completion of the rebuilding. The Business Plan is available if required.

Based at Brading, Isle of Wight, Brading Roman Villa is a distinguished example of a Roman courtyard villa of the type owned by the wealthiest Roman Britons. It dates back to the 1^st century AD and has strong agricultural and maritime history. The villa and its site are of national importance, as shown by the formal designation as a Grade 1 Listed Building and as an Ancient Monument, located within an “Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty”. However, the villa’s greatest distinguishing feature is its internationally significant in-situ mosaics, which date back to the 4^th century and are of an artistic and philosophical merit unrivalled in Western Europe. As Dr. D J Smith said in his definitive study of Britain’s Roman villas, “Of all the mosaics of this period in Britain…none better reflect the intellectual and spiritual cross-currents of the times than do those of the villa of Brading”.

The villa is at present housed in a 97-year old structure, the useful life of which is at an end, and as a result the site was designated in 2002 by the World Monument Fund as “One of the World’s 100 Most Endangered Sites”. Storms and heavy rain last autumn have caused further penetration of the existing corrugated iron building and the Trustees’ ability to prevent irreparable damage is diminishing fast. A new cover building is urgently needed to preserve the villa, and the mosaics within it, as a source of scholarship and research, and a source of wonder to the visiting public. English Heritage has advised that failure to provide a new protective structure could mean the site will have to be reburied forever.

Local architects Rainey Petrie Johns Limited, have been retained and outline planning consent has been obtained for a new cover building. The environmentally sensitive design with its sedum-covered roof, appropriate to the villa’s rural and maritime surroundings, will offer a building with the following benefits:

• Enhanced physical presentation: The mosaics, walls and excavated artefacts and features will be set off to best advantage in an insulated and carefully lit building.
• Public Enjoyment and Understanding: The new building will allow the villa to be seen and appreciated as a whole, whereas the present construction rests on, and partly obscures, the ancient walls.
• Improved accessibility: We will be creating better viewing areas for the mosaics and improved access for people with disabilities.
• Research potential: additional space will allow the display of more associated artefacts and interpretative materials. This will enhance educational visits and foster deeper study.
• Improved facilities: The scope for increased “dwell time” and other activities on site will be considerable. This will enable expansion of the current schools’ programme and will extend value for all.
• Education Centre, Café and Shop: These new facilities will serve to enhance visitors’ experience and provide essential funds.

The new building will allow for all year round visits. This increased opening time, supported by a strong, proactive marketing plan, is expected to double annual visitor numbers to around 40,000 p.a.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has committed a grant to meet 75% of the £2.8m project costs, and the Trust is seeking matching funds of £750,000.

The trustees would be very happy to provide any further information required

Anthony Turnbull

August 2003