A £25,000 grant has given people the chance to walk in the footsteps of Romans at a popular tourist attraction near Chalton.

The Roman villa at Butser Ancient Farm has been given a sympathetic makeover thanks to East Hampshire District Council (EHDC).

Authentic materials like Roman concrete, which was used to level the floor, featured heavily in the £100,000 revamp.

Walls were also plastered using Roman techniques while further improvements include the widening of doors, new windows and the addition of a staircase to a mezzanine level.

“We wouldn’t have been able to do this work without the EHDC cabinet grant and we are very grateful to them for supporting us in this way,” said Maureen Page, one of the farm’s directors.

The improved villa has welcomed more than 17,000 visitors since re-opening, while the changes have also impressed Cllr Julie Butler, EHDC portfolio holder for customer relations.

She said: “The Roman villa looks amazing and really brings home to you what life was like for people 2,000 years ago.

“Butser Ancient Farm is a real treasure and one of East Hampshire’s top attractions so we are very proud to have been able to support it in this way.”

Craftsmen were brought in to work on the villa. Around 40 tonnes of mud floor was dug out and replaced with the Roman concrete, called opus signinum, all completed by hand.

For added authenticity some touches were added to the wet concrete, including the footprints of a Roman soldier’s hobnail boots and the paw marks of the household dog.

If Romans aren’t your thing then maybe it’s time to try a different activity, as one of the hottest new developments at the farm is the launch of a ‘Master of Metal’ course in 2018.

People who sign up to the six-day course will learn the craft of forging copper, bronze, iron and silver.

They will be taught how to make a range of metal objects, from a Bronze Age-style axe head to historic blacksmithing, in five workshops.

Basket making, foraging, woodwork, felting and flint-knapping workshops are also available, according to co-ordinator Sue Webber.

She said: “It’s an amazing opportunity to learn some ancient crafts and techniques in unforgettable surroundings.”

Visit www.butserancientfarm.co.uk for more details about the courses available.