This cache is located in a beautiful, intact Georgian Square. Britannia Square was built on medieval open fields just outside the Tything suburb, which extended to the north of the city. Evidence of occupation before the 19th century is confined to remains of Roman buildings; this area is at the northernmost extremity of the Roman town.
A circular building was found in the centre of the square in 1829, when Springfield was built. This has been interpreted as a temple, or part of a country house or villa. A large number of coins found at the same time were probably from a hoard dating to the fourth century AD. More recent work on the site uncovered further remains, but threw no light on their interpretation. Parts of other Roman
buildings and a small part of a mosaic have been found on the south side of the square, in the last decade. The house at the centre of the square,
Springfield, was erected circa 1829, by which date many of the houses on the surrounding plots had been completed. A few of the plots were never developed, perhaps being acquired to extend the grounds of existing houses. It is now an 'Outstanding' independent prep school.