Description:
In 1858 a beautiful piece of mosaic floor (tessellated pavement) measuring 15' x 10', was discovered beneath the surface of the soil at Glebe Farm. This pavement was part of the floor of a Roman villa that faced the old settlement on the hill, and the quantity of charred wood found may point to its destruction by fire. Further excavations during 1933-1949 concluded that the villa was built and used for agricultural purposes. The floor had been worked to geometrical patterns around a central oval, with wide scroll bordering of red tessarae, and parallel lines of white and blue separating it from the inner part. The pavement was in perfect condition, and its colouring as brilliant as when it was first laid down. The rector had it carefully covered for preservation, but sightseers and children considerably diminished its size. In 1878 it was offered as a gift to the Castle Museum, who declined on account of the few pounds it would have cost to have it removed and reset in Nottingham. Sadly, the pavement was lifted, put in bags and transferred to the rectory at Barton in the late 19th century, from where it has now disappeared. (information from Barton in Fabis Parish Council website).
On the right of the building is the track of the 2ft narrow gauge tramway of Barton Gypsum Mine seen in the far distance. The mine was opened in 1877 and the tramway was constructed in 1880 running 1.5 miles to a wharf on the Trent. Horses were used until 1911 when a 4-wheeled petrol locomotive was purchased new. The locomotive, built in 1909, was an exhibition item at the Mining Exhibition in Manchester on the 21st November 1911 and purchased off the stand by the Cafferata & Co of Barton Mines. Gypsum from the mine was taken by barge to Nottingham and then shipped by rail to Newark for processing. The tramway is believed to have closed in 1945 and the mine continued with lorry transport for a short time after. Over the years the tramway owned 8 locomotives.