When Queen Edith, last Anglo-Saxon queen and richest woman in England, died in 1075 AD, she left behind the huge royal manor of Oakham, creating a mystery that has been baffling historians for hundreds of years.

Paul Wiggin, local historian and exploration geologist, explains that the mystery has now been solved as the origin of the 11th century Royal Oakham Manor has been uncovered.

When Queen Edith died, her lands were transferred to William the Conqueror.

This included the royal manor of Oakham which had been given to Edith by her husband King Edward the Confessor as part of her Dower.

The estate was estimated to have been around 23 square kilometres in today's measurement.

According to Paul, 'the question of how Oakham Manor became so large has been a puzzle for over 1000 years, but we now know the answer is that a prosperous Roman Oakham Villa Farm Estate, was the origin of the 11th century Royal Oakham Manor.'

The geology, landscape archaeology and research model predicted a Roman Villa had been situated on the spur of land to the North West of Dog Kennel cottage.

This location was later confirmed by the discovery earlier in the year.

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Paul said: 'Oakham is unique.

'There doesn't seem to be anywhere else in the world where people can walk from the town centre and visit the location of the six key features that define a Roman Villa Farm Estate.'

The Roman Oakham Villa Farm Estate shows key features of: the Roman villa, farm buildings, agricultural land, boundaries and infrastructure, worker's accommodation and religious features.

A map has been commissioned to be displayed on Rutland Day on 12 September at the Deadblind Bookshop on Oakham High Street.

To celebrate the solving of this 1000-year mystery, limited edition souvenir copies of the map will be available on the day with proceeds going to charity.