Roman Villas
Island’s Historical Sites
Historical Places to Visit
During the Roman occupation, the Isle of Wight largely shrugged off the grand imperial fanfare and carried on as a rural backwater. No bustling Roman towns sprang up, no grand roads paved the way to civilisation.
That said, a few of the local landowners weren’t entirely immune to the charms of Roman culture. These well-heeled islanders were wealthy enough to erect villas and farmhouses in the Roman style, complete with the usual Mediterranean flair, despite the British weather’s best efforts.
We know of at least seven such villas dotted around the island, a quiet nod to the fact that even in a rural outpost, the allure of Roman luxury could still tempt the locals to swap their thatched roofs for something with a bit more marble.
HISTORIC VILLAS — NEWPORT AND BRADING
These villas weren’t just fancy country retreats; they were the bustling hubs of prosperous farm estates, likely churning out surplus grain and wool to flog over on the mainland.
Two of these villas are open to the public, offering a peek into island life under Roman rule.
Newport Villa boasts a remarkably well-preserved bath suite, complete with a hypocaust—the Romans' ancient answer to central heating. Meanwhile, Brading Villa steals the show with its exquisite mosaics, some of which depict classical tales like Orpheus charming all of creation or Medusa, presumably before her bad hair day.
Both villas also feature artefact displays that bring Roman-era island life into sharper focus, showing off everything from pottery to tools, and perhaps the odd trinket from the day-to-day life of the long-gone island elite.