Nunnery Mead

Nunnery Mead is a nature reserve of the Dorset Wildlife Trust, near Frampton and about 2 miles south-east of Maiden Newton, in Dorset, England. It is a former water-meadow, next to the River Frome. The reserve also contains the site of a Roman villa.

Nunnery Mead
Nunnery Mead is located in Dorset
Nunnery Mead
Location in Dorset
OS gridSY 615 954
Coordinates50°45′25″N 2°32′50″W
Area6 hectares (15 acres)
Operated byDorset Wildlife Trust
Websitewww.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/nunnery-mead

Description

There is no allocated parking; visitors may walk here from nearby villages.[1]

The area of the site is 6 hectares (15 acres). Most of this is a former water meadow, that floods seasonally. Birds to be found here include the song thrush all year, and the snipe in winter. The River Frome is on the northern boundary of the reserve; alongside the river is a strip of woodland, containing several tree species including ash and alder.[1]

Roman villa

The Roman villa was discovered in 1796, and excavated by Samuel Lysons. The elaborately designed tesselated pavements revealed were inspected by George III in 1797.[2][3] It was thought to have been destroyed in the mid-19th century, but was rediscovered in 2019 by archaeologists from Bournemouth University. Miles Russell, from the university, said: ".... the results, finding well-preserved walls and areas of surviving mosaic, were truly exceptional" – it was an "exciting and nationally important site."[4] The site of the villa is protected as a scheduled monument.[2]

References
  1. "Nunnery Mead" Dorset Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  2. Historic England. "Frampton Roman villa (1002683)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  3. 'Maiden Newton', in An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Dorset, Volume 1, West (London, 1952), pp. 150-153 British History Online. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  4. "Roman villa re-discovered in Dorset nature reserve" Gillingham News, 4 December 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
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