Information for record number MWA1087:
Possible undated cemetery

Summary Circumstantial
What Is It?  
Type: Enclosure, Cemetery
Period: Unknown
Where Is It?  
Parish: Tanworth in Arden
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: 00
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Description

  
Source Number  
Site of possible cemetery.
1 Sir William Dugdale, in a letter to Mr Anthony Wood dated 23rd August, 1677, brought to his notice a very recent discovery reported by a late visitor to Colonel Archer in Tanworth. This visitor '...saw a notable discoverie in Tanworth Lordship, by the digging of marle to manure Mr Archer's Land, viz. a camp of about a mile in circumference, wherein are now growing divers great old oaks; and within, or near it, about six feet deep from the surface of the ground, a trench of about eighteen foote wide and 55 yards in length wherein the bodies of a multitude of men have been buryed (he thinks two thousand) for the blacknesse of the earth occassioned by the putrefaction of the flesh with the bones is (as he says) about four foot in depth. Amongst them they have found a speare head of iron, much eaten with rust; and in this digging, have taken up divers potsherds, some of large magnitude, and about two inches thick....'
2 Warwick, Coventry and Birmingham Museums were contacted but had no information relative to this report, nor could a reference be found in other literature. Dugdale himself makes no mention in his historical writings and it would seem that the account should be treated with reserve.
 
Sources
Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Story of Tanworth in Arden
Author/originator: Burman J
Date: 1930
Page Number: 50
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: OS Card 25NE6
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1968
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
source OS Card Ordnance Survey Record Card. Before the 1970s the Ordnance Survey (OS) were responsible for recording archaeological monuments during mapping exercises. This helped the Ordnance Survey to decide which monuments to publish on maps. During these exercises the details of the monuments were written down on record cards. Copies of some of the cards are kept at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. The responsibility for recording archaeological monuments later passed to the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historic Monuments. back
monument YARD * A paved area, generally found at the back of a house. back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument MUSEUM * A building, group of buildings or space within a building, where objects of value such as works of art, antiquities, scientific specimens, or other artefacts are housed and displayed. back
monument ENCLOSURE * An area of land enclosed by a boundary ditch, bank, wall, palisade or other similar barrier. Use specific type where known. back
monument CEMETERY * An area of ground, set apart for the burial of the dead. back
monument WOOD * A tract of land with trees, sometimes acting as a boundary or barrier, usually smaller and less wild than a forest. back
monument TRENCH * An excavation used as a means of concealment, protection or both. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record