the romans built the fosse way about to the west. near the present-day box church is the site of a roman country house which was excavated during the 19th century, again in 1902-3 by harold brakspear, and again in 1967-8. there was a major rebuilding in the late 3rd or early 4th century which changed it into the largest villa in the bath area. the villa had one of the richest collections of mosaic floors of any building in roman britain, with remains found to date in 20 rooms, there being 42 rooms positively identified in the main villa and 15 more under investigation. room 26 appears to be a major presence chamber in the manner of that at trier. a villa such as this would have been the centre of a large estate and the focus of interest for at least six possible subsidiary villas or farmsteads at ditteridge, hazelbury and shockerwick (near bathford) and those further afield at colerne, atworth, and bradford on avon. in 1086 the domesday book recorded 25 households at hazelbury and six at ditteridge.