Rockbourne Roman Villa, operated by Hampshire Cultural Trust, re-opens its doors for the season on Friday 29 March 2024 and will be open Thursday – Sunday 11am-4pm throughout the spring and summer.
The site closed for the winter months in October 2023 and its much-awaited re-opening comes in time for the spring sunshine so that visitors can enjoy picnics and walks around the unique archaeological site and learn about the villa’s history in the on-site museum.
Rockbourne Roman Villa is situated in a peaceful part of Hampshire near the historic town of Fordingbridge, on the edge of the New Forest. At the site visitors 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.
Visitors will also be able to 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 40 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 visitors around the site and there is a family- friendly trail to accompany them.
Visitors to Rockbourne from 29 March to 14 April can enjoy a spring flowers Easter hunt around the historic grounds and earn a chocolatey treat.
On Sunday 31 March and Monday 1, Friday 12, Sunday 14, Sunday 21, Friday 26 and Sunday 28 April, visitors can come face to face with a Roman Solider and unlock the secrets of the villa. John Smith is the villa’s resident Roman and is a costumed interpreter with over 40 years’ experience as an archaeologist and curator. John will be at Rockbourne throughout the days in full military costume chatting about all aspects of Roman life; both military and domestic.
In August, SISATA Theatre will take audiences to Neverland like they have never seen it before with their rendition of Peter Pan. Dorset-based SISATA will perform at Rockbourne on 15 August and will take audiences on a trip inspired by the Isle of Portland off the Jurassic Coast, where they can meet the natives of Portland, pirates and smugglers and a prehistoric Jurassic monster intent on consuming the rest of Hook.
Visit the Rockbourne Roman Villa website for booking details and more upcoming events this spring and summer - Rockbourne Roman Villa | Hampshire Cultural Trust (hampshireculture.org.uk).