Key Points
- Rare fragments of a Roman mosaic, depicting a bear, a leopard, and a boar, are being reunited for the first time since their unearthing more than 200 years ago.
- The mosaics were discovered in 1811 at a Roman villa near the village of Withington in Gloucestershire.
- Three fragments, held in storage at the British Museum for centuries, are now on permanent display at the Corinium Museum in Cirencester.
- The fragments will be exhibited alongside the Orpheus Mosaic, discovered 10 miles (16km) away at Barton Farm in Cirencester.
- The largest fragment shows a wild boar being chased by a hunting dog and measures about 2.5m (8ft) across.
- The smallest fragment depicts a bear and is about 1m (3.2ft) long.
- Emma Stuart, director of the Corinium Museum, expressed thrill over the return, noting the fragments have not been seen publicly in the county for 200 years except for very brief airings.
- Several Withington fragments were sent to London by the landowner after discovery, while a single section was gifted to Bristol Museums.
- The fragments have survived for at least 1,800 years, if not longer.
- Richard Hobbs from the British Museum highlighted that very few mosaics from Roman Britain are on public view in British museums, with most lost, damaged, or still buried.
- The antiquarian ancestors deserve gratitude for preserving these fragments for future generations.
Withington (Manchester Mirror) January 31, 2026 – Rare fragments of a Roman mosaic discovered over two centuries ago in a villa near Withington, Gloucestershire, have returned to public display at the Corinium Museum in Cirencester after spending years in storage at the British Museum. The three key pieces, depicting a bear, a leopard, and a boar, mark a historic reunion with local artefacts, including the nearby Orpheus Mosaic. Museum director Emma Stuart hailed the moment as a long-awaited fulfilment of her wish list, allowing visitors to finally see these ancient treasures in their home county.
What Are the Withington Mosaic Fragments?
The Withington fragments originate from a Roman villa unearthed in 1811 near the village of Withington in Gloucestershire. These pieces formed part of a larger mosaic that included a depiction of Orpheus charming animals and birds with his music, a classic motif from Roman artistry symbolising harmony through melody.
As reported across multiple sources, the fragments specifically showcase a bear, a leopard, and a boar amid a hunting scene. The largest, portraying a wild boar pursued by a hunting dog, spans approximately 2.5m (8ft) across, while the bear fragment measures about 1m (3.2ft) long. Following their discovery, the landowner dispatched several fragments to London, where they entered the British Museum’s collection, with one section gifted to Bristol Museums.
Why Have the Fragments Been Away for 200 Years?
The fragments’ long absence from public view stems from their transfer to major institutions post-discovery. Held in storage at the British Museum for centuries, they received only very brief airings and were not accessible to the Gloucestershire public since leaving the county over 200 years ago.
Emma Stuart, the Corinium Museum’s director, stated: “I am thrilled. Apart from the very, very brief airings – they’ve not been seen by the public in the 200 years since they’ve left the county.” She further explained the post-discovery journey: several Withington fragments were sent to London by the landowner, while a single section was “gifted to Bristol Museums”.
This return rectifies a historical dispersal, bringing the artefacts back to their regional context after enduring at least 1,800 years, if not longer. Stuart emphasised the survival marvel: “The fact that these have survived for at least 1,800 [years] if not longer, is incredible.”
Where Are the Fragments Displayed Now?
The three fragments are now on permanent display at the Corinium Museum in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. They join the Orpheus Mosaic, unearthed 10 miles (16km) away at Barton Farm in Cirencester, creating a poignant regional reunion of Roman artistry.
Stuart expressed her excitement: “To have the [fragments] on display here at the Corinium Museum has been on my wish list for a long time. I am thrilled and I can’t wait for people to see them.” This exhibition allows locals and visitors to appreciate these pieces in proximity to similar finds, enhancing understanding of Roman life in the Cotswolds.
How Rare Are Roman Mosaics from Britain?
Roman mosaics from Britain are exceptionally scarce in public view, as noted by experts. Richard Hobbs, from the British Museum, observed: “Surprisingly, very few mosaics from Roman Britain are available for public view in British museums.”
He elaborated: “The vast majority of mosaics have either been lost, damaged beyond recovery or still lie buried under the soil.” Hobbs credited preservation efforts: “We therefore have to be grateful to our antiquarian ancestors for preserving these fragments for future generations.”
This rarity underscores the significance of the Withington fragments’ display, offering a rare glimpse into Roman Britain’s artistic legacy amid widespread loss or inaccessibility.
What Is the Orpheus Mosaic and Its Connection?
The Orpheus Mosaic, discovered at Barton Farm in Cirencester, depicts the mythological figure Orpheus enchanting animals and birds with his lyre, a theme echoed in the Withington villa’s broader mosaic. Situated just 10 miles (16km) from Withington, it provides contextual synergy for the returning fragments.
Displaying the bear, leopard, and boar pieces alongside this mosaic enriches the narrative of Roman villa culture in Gloucestershire. The combination highlights interconnected artistic traditions across nearby sites, from hunting scenes to mythical serenades, preserved through 1,800 years.
Who Are the Key Figures Behind the Return?
Emma Stuart leads the celebration at the Corinium Museum. As director, she has long advocated for repatriating these local treasures. Her statements capture the emotional weight: “I am thrilled,” she said, anticipating public engagement.
Richard Hobbs represents the lending institution, the British Museum. His insights affirm the artefacts’ value and the challenges of Roman mosaic survival. Together, their voices frame the story as a collaborative triumph between national and local heritage bodies.
Why Does This Matter for Gloucestershire Heritage?
This homecoming revitalises Gloucestershire’s Roman heritage narrative. Withington’s 1811 discovery joins Cirencester’s established Roman legacy, drawing tourists to the Corinium Museum. It spotlights how 19th-century antiquarians safeguarded pieces now endangered by time and soil.
The display educates on Roman Britain’s opulent villas, where mosaics adorned floors with vivid wildlife and myth. Stuart’s wish-list item realised, it fosters pride in a county rich in buried history, urging protection of remaining sites.
What Can Visitors Expect to See?
Visitors will encounter the boar fragment’s dynamic chase, the leopard’s poised form, and the bear’s sturdy figure, all in striking Roman tesserae. Beside the Orpheus Mosaic’s lyrical scene, these evoke a villa’s grandeur.
Sizes vary dramatically: the boar’s 2.5m expanse contrasts the bear’s 1m scale, showcasing mosaic scale and skill. Brief historical labels will contextualise the 1811 find, London journey, and survival saga.
How Was the Mosaic Originally Discovered?
In 1811, labourers stumbled upon the Roman villa near Withington, revealing mosaics amid ruins. The Orpheus-charming-animals scene captivated early excavators, but fragments dispersed: most to the British Museum via the landowner, one to Bristol.
This antiquarian zeal, though scattering pieces, ensured endurance. Hobbs praised such forebears for defying loss, damage, or burial that claimed most peers.
What Is the Historical Significance of These Artefacts?
Dating to Roman Britain (43-410 AD), these mosaics reflect elite villa life, blending imported motifs with local flair. The animals evoke hunts, Orpheus symbolises arts’ power—enduring themes over millennia.
Their 1,800-year survival, per Stuart, stuns, given threats. Public display at Corinium bridges past and present, honouring Gloucestershire’s Roman footprint amid Britain’s mosaic paucity.
