How to close a hypocaust flue
The experimental hypocaust had problems with strong wind blowing down the exit flues. Metal plates have been made to act as baffles and can also be used to close a […]
Category Archives: Villa
Fantastic volunteers!
Visitors to the reconstruction buildings are rightly amazed about what the volunteers have achieved. This week there were teams mass producing benches for the longhall, carving decorative chairs for the […]
Christians and fruit
Benches, chairs and doors were the theme of the day in the Saxon hall, while in the Roman building it was frescos and boarding. The recent morning mists on the […]
How to fresco in small pieces
The hunting fresco image suffered from a patch of mold so had to be redone. The last thin plaster layer was removed and a new layer applied, but only in […]
Upping the ante
Work progresses on the frescos in the ante-room of the Roman building, with candelabra, fruit, hunters and Christian Chi Rho (XP) imagery. The building is based on 4th century AD […]
Swallows
As fresco work continued in the Roman building and furniture was being made in the longhall, the swallows nesting in the longhall roof have fledged and are now flying happily […]
People and serpents
Frescos continue steadily with portraits of the owners of the villa and the rather scary serpent of prosperity and fruitfulness. Meanwhile a solution seems to have been found to the […]
Romans go home!
The Roman building has been subjected to political vandalism. It is uncertain if the Messiah was to blame or just a very naughty boy. The message was gramatically incorrect, so […]
The Lady and the beasts
In fresco world this week, various animals have appeared – birds on the columns around Diana the huntress and in the ante room a serpent, or agathodaimon, a spirit representing […]
Fresco detail
Work on the frescos continues, with a palm tree theme to one column and the awkward space in the corner filled by a theatre mask – reminds me of someone. […]
'Hands on Heritage' in the Avalon Marshes 