Hidden Box
Updated 3 October 2026
Hidden Box offers more than its railway tunnel and Bath stone: a closer look reveals a village with Roman remains, a historic lock-up, local industry and a music-making connection. These are stories to explore alongside a stay at Lorne House, rather than a list of attractions all open for tours.
The Blind House
The small stone Blind House on the High Street is a Grade II listed former lock-up, dated by Historic England to the early eighteenth century. Its compact shape and stone dome make it one of the village’s distinctive historic buildings.
Read the official Blind House listing for its architectural details.
The Roman village beneath today’s Box
Near the parish church lie the buried remains of a substantial Roman villa. Archaeological work has identified elaborate buildings and mosaic floors beneath the modern village. This is hidden history in a literal sense: it should not be treated as an excavated attraction available to walk into.
The Box Roman Villa project explains the discoveries and shows reconstructions and a model. The Historic England record provides the archaeological background.
Remembering the Rising Sun
The Rising Sun pub on Box Hill was destroyed in a gas explosion in December 1957, with the loss of three members of the Griffin family. The memorial is a place to pause and remember a tragedy that remains part of the village’s shared history.
Box People and Places records the pub’s earlier life and the family who lived there. The official Box Heritage Trail includes the former pub site.
Tennis balls made locally
Box’s industrial story is not confined to stone. Price of Bath continues the local tradition of manufacturing tennis, squash and racket balls, including personalised products. Check the company’s own information for its current range and location; a mention here does not imply factory tours.
Real World Studios
Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios occupies a former mill complex in Box. It is an important part of the village’s musical story, but it is a working recording studio. Its official FAQ states that tours are not available to the general public, with virtual views available through its website.
Hidden Box: railway and underground history
The nearby tunnel and former quarry workings link Box to engineering and military history. Read our underground city story and Awdry and Thomas the Tank Engine article for two very different sides of that connection.
To explore on foot, use our walking guide and the current official route information.
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