Redrow Redrow discovered an ancient roman villa hidden under rugby pitch in Bristol
Redrow Homes is under fire for building a housing development over the remains of a historic villa under a rugby pitch in Lockleaze, Bristol. Local authorities gave the builder permission to resume work on the 152-home development after the villa was discovered. However, local historian Steve England claimed he spoke to Redrow about holding an open day for the ancient Roman site, but bulldozers returned before plans for the event were cemented. 
One of Britain's biggest housing developers has come under fire for building over an ancient Roman site without letting locals see it.

Redrow Homes stumbled across the remains of a historic villa under a rugby pitch in the Lockleaze area of Bristol.

The discovery meant work on a major new housing development ground to a halt to allow archaeologists to pore over the site.

But the local council gave the firm permission to restart work on the proposed 152-home development after the villa was deemed 'unworthy of preservation'.

Redrow Homes stumbled across the remains of the villa which was buried underneath a rugby pitch while building a new housing development

ROMAN VILLAS The Romans were in Britain between 43 - 410 AD. Roman villas were often built in rectangular shapes with stones walls and tiled roofs. They usually had rooms which were decorated with mosaics. Larger villas might have had under-floor heating system in which hot air from a fire would flow around under the floor to hear rooms above it. Advertisement !- - ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/ru/sciencetech/none/article/other/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_1 - ->

Local historian Steve England claims he negotiated a deal with Redrow to hold an open day - which he says could have attracted thousands of people.

But to his dismay he saw the archaeologists leave, bulldozers return and the artefacts taken away before an open day could be finalised.

He said: 'There was an Iron Age and Roman industrial site here and it's the biggest archaeological discovery in this area, ever.

'I came across it a year ago, and agreed that I'd keep quiet about it and that they'd hold an open day when the dig was done to show everyone what they found.

'It's the kind of thing that would really interest local people here in Lockleaze.

'They could have opened it up to thousands of people for one day, and people would have loved to find out more.

'They could have got the schools in, and shown them everything.

'But I'm furious now after seeing the diggers come back, and work re-starting.

'They've basically bulldozed the site, obliterated it, and all the stuff they found has been taken away. We're not going to see it again.'

The archaeology was commissioned and supervised by South Gloucestershire's archaeologist.

Local historian, Steve England (pictured), at the entrance to The Dings rugby club in Lockleaze, Bristol. A developer has been slammed for bulldozing a Roman Villa site dubbed a city's 'most important discovery' ever without letting locals see it

Works ground to a halt while archaeologists looked over the site where it ís alleged they discovered a rare haul of artefacts which have not yet been made public

A council spokesman said: 'Our archaeologist worked with Redrow once the villa discovery was made.

'Although the villa survived reasonably well, it was clear that items had been removed from many of the walls and floor surfaces at some point in the past and although a rare find, it was not considered worthy of preservation in situ.

Redrow Homes said they had worked closely with archaeologists to ensure the artefacts of particular historical significance have been removed and 'safely registered and stored'

'As such, it was fully excavated and will now go through a rigorous process of post-excavation assessment, analysis and publication which will add considerably to our knowledge of the Roman period in South Gloucestershire.'

Redrow Homes said they had worked closely with archaeologists to ensure the artefacts of particular historical significance have been removed and 'safely registered and stored'.

They said: 'They will become a matter of public record once fully processed.

'A detailed record of all findings at the site was taken before it was covered over to ensure its safe preservation.

'The excavation of the site was concluded just before Christmas.

'Once satisfied that a thorough excavation and recording of the find had been taken, South Gloucestershire County Council gave Redrow Homes permission to continue work on the development.'

The site in question belonged to the Dings Crusaders rugby club who had occupied it since 1948 before selling to Redrow.