Monument record 1787 - Possible Roman Villa Near Holt

<1> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, p.232 (Book). SCH3556.

Hypocaust found during the reign of Charles I (c.1625-49) with tiles bearing the stamp of the XX Legion.

<2> Thompson Watkin W. T., 1886, Roman Cheshire: A Description of Roman Remains in the County of Chester, p.305-306 (Book). SCH2878.

Possible site of villa. In vol. 2111 occur these words :- "The manner or forme of a Romane monumente lately found by Mr. Thomas Crewe, gent." On the opposite page is marked- "Stove found at Holt" and a short account :- "The place wherein the stove was made is square", and it is then said that it was twelve feet each way, and five feet beneath the surface; it was full of "square potts or pillars", with two square holes in them. [Plainly a descrription of flue tiles]. The hypocaust is then briefly described, with its hard mortar and flat tiles, or bricks, marked "LEG XX VV." Another memorandum on the same page says "This monument was an entire stove found in Mr. Crue's ground, in the reign of King Charles I, as I gess, which he suffered to be defaced". Part of this account is written "by his own hand".

In vol. 2014 the words, "stove or hot house", are followed by: “Also in the breaking up of an auncient plowed field near Holt towne, the like kind of stove was discovered , wherein were found several bricks being somewhat long and narrow (of the third figure given), turning upwards at their edges, like unto borders, between which were the letters imprinted according to ye figure &c". The inscription on these tiles is then given, as LEG. XX .VV . , the two last letters interlacing each other.

In vol .2084, the finder is named "Mr. Thomas Crue, of the Hole", and a letter from him occurs, concerning "Grounds near the Holte", so that we are enabled to identify the site of the discovery. [Ormerod (see 4) records that, at the begining of the eighteenth century, the township of Crewe by Farndon was owned by Mr Thomas Crewe of Holt.] The tiles also enable us to ascertain that it was the residence of some one connected with the Twentieth Legion.

<3> Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, 1849 onwards, Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, vol.39 p.56 (Journal/Periodical). SCH3800.

In the reign of Charles I a Roman Hypocaust, evidently belonging to a villa, was discovered in the grounds of Mr Crewe, of Crewe, near Farndon. It was twelve feet square, and five feet beneath the surface. Its pillars seem to have been composed of flue tiles entirely, probably, as in other cases, filled with mortar, and the large tiles of the roof bore the well-known stamp of the twentieth legion (LEG. xx. v.v.).

Note: This reference cited in the VCH (see 1) is incorrect.

<4> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, vol.II p.752 (Book). SCH1389.

At the begining of the eighteenth century, the township of Crewe by Farndon was owned by Mr Thomas Crewe of Holt. Ormerod makes no reference to discovery.

<5> Harley R & Harley E, Various, Harleian Manuscripts, Volumes 2014, 2084, & 2111 (Paper Archive). SCH9567.

<6> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Jenkins T, 18/04/2024 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

Thomas Crewe lived at Holt Hill in Holt and farmed land in Holt. The Roman hypocaust may have been one associated with the Roman tileworks site at Holt.