On 19th June, Ashley gave us a warm welcome on a very warm day to his to his incredible farm in Gestingthorpe.
Firstly, he took us into his Roman museum to show us the amazing finds from his family’s farm. While deep ploughing in 1947, his father, Harold Cooper, found pieces of pottery which were identified as red Roman tiles. Ashley told us about the finds and explained the exhibits: bone hairpins, jewellery, tools, keys, Roman coins…
The most important find, however, was the remnant of a clay mould found in the late 1950s. Ashley’s father took it to many important museums and it was finally identified as the mould for Roman statuettes using the lost wax method.
We were then taken to a large barn where Ashley has many interesting vintage items and farm machinery. He showed us the cover of a WWII car head lamp which prompted a lively discussion. We were then treated to an excellent cup of tea and a chocolate hobnob. Ashley then led us up to the site of the Roman Villa where skylarks were singing in the fields. The outline of the villa is clearly marked by grassed areas. He brought the scene to life with the help of some of the party acting as slave/owner – and Roman vases!
We had a wonderful outing thanks to Ashley and it gave us an insight into Roman life on an important rural Roman settlement on the Roman road from Chelmsford to Bury St. Edmunds. Many thanks, Ashley!
Clare Mortimer