Information for record number MWA1666:
Possible Site of Knights Templars' Manor at Bermuda

Summary The possible site of a Medieval manor house belonging to the Knights Templar. The site has been excavated and lies 300m south west of Bermuda.
What Is It?  
Type: Manor House, House, Templars Church?
Period: Medieval - Post-Medieval (1066 AD - 1750 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Nuneaton and Bedworth
District: Nuneaton and Bedworth, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 35 89
(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  

1 The Knights Templars held land in Chilvers Coton in 1185, which passed to the Knights Hospitallers when the former order was disbanded. The land possibly still belonged to the Hospitallers in 1529. After 1481 the property is always recorded as a manor and in the Post Medieval period a manor house called 'The Temple' existed on the site (PRN 6255).
2 1967: An excavation on the possible site of the Templars' manor. Scattered traces were found of timbered farm buildings probably Medieval in date but there was no sign of any dwelling house.
3 1970: An area of 1000 sq yards was stripped in the search for the former manor house of the Knights Templars. A timber-framed building was found erected on an area artificially levelled. The building comprised three bays and was 6.7m by about 14.6m. It had a circular oven in its SW corner and two fireplaces at its E end. Several reused blocks of dressed red sandstone and three pieces of moulded white limestone from doors and windows were reused in the building. A paved yard lay to the N and E and a small building, probably a drying kiln, was also found. All the structures date to after 1314. The presence of roofing slates, fragments of decorated floor tile and large quantities of 13th century pottery in rubble beneath the timber building indicates that a substantial structure had been destroyed or drastically modified before the 14th century building was constructed. The exact location of the Templars' manor house is still uncertain.
4 Map.
5 Archaeological fieldwork was undertaken in order to re-locate and record the Medieval site, previously part-excavated in 1970. The excavation recorded deposits dating from the 13th to 17th centuries, which appeared to survive as ‘islands’ in an otherwise heavily disturbed area. The remains of the Medieval building discovered in 1970 were identified. This appeared to have been occupied during the 15th to 17th centuries but incorporated earlier building stone. It was interpreted as a domestic dwelling. Rubbish pits beneath the building dated to the 13th century and contained an important assemblage of pottery. Elsewhere across the exposed area was a spread of Medieval building rubble, which was considered to be of 13th century origin.
6The land is known from documentary sources to have been within the demesnes of the monastic military order of the Knight Templars between 1185 and 1314 and subsiquently the Knights Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem, until the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII in 1540. The lans formed part of the manorial estate of Chilverscoton and was used for farming purposes. During this time buildings on the site included a hall, chapel, granary and several other agricultural buildings. Archaeological evaluation carried out in 2004 indicated the survival of deposits in the southeastern part of the site.
7 Analysis of field names and land conveyances proves that the 1567 document refers to a site centred at SP353898. The land did remain the property of the Hospitallers, but it was leased in the 14th cenury to both Erdbury Priory and Sir Edward Grey.
8 Precis of
5.
9 Correspondence from 1989.
10 Further to evaluation (see
6), area excavation was carried out adjacent to areas of the site previously excavated by Birmingham University, Atherstone Archaeological Society and Martin Wilson. The earliest evidence of activity on the site was in the form of large stone packed postholes and the ephemeral remains of masonry walls, probably associated with the Templar occupation of the site. In a later Medieval phase a building with stone foundation replaced this structure, and further structures associated with cobbled yards and a trackway were recorded to the east. Large amounts of 13th-14th century Medieval pottery, probably from the nearby Chilverscoton kilns, were found associated with these remains. A series of stream channels were managed throughout the Medieval period, and in the southern part of the site a pond was formed. Timber stakes and a substantial dump of stone, forming what may have been a bridge abutment, revetted one bank of the pond. A further stone feature to the south may have been a related collapsed pier base. In the later Medieval period a series of masonry structures, more ephemeral timber structures and cobbled areas are contemporary with the occupation of the site by the Hospitallers.
11 Version of
10 published in TBAS.
 
Sources
Source No: 10
Source Type: Archaeological Report
Title: Bermuda Park, Nuneaton, County of Warwickshire: Archive Report
Author/originator: Eddisford D
Date: 2008
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Victoria County History, vol 4, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Salzman L F (ed)
Date: 1947
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 4
   
Source No: 9
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Templars Manor, Nuneaton
Author/originator: EH
Date: 1989
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Amendments to SMR Information on Knights Templars' Manor
Author/originator: Wilson, M.
Date: 1999
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: WMANS
Author/originator: Taylor S
Date: 1967
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 10
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: Excavation Report: Possible Site of Knights Templars' Manor at Bermuda
Author/originator: Taylor S
Date: 1970
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: A Medieval Settlement at Bermuda Village, Nuneaton, Warwickshire. Research Investigations 1996-7. Interim Site Report
Author/originator: Wilson M D
Date: 1998
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Evaluation Report
Title: Report on an Archaeological Evaluation at Bermuda Park, Nuneaton
Author/originator: Stephenson, A
Date: 2004
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Map
Title: Map 1995
Author/originator: Cook A F
Date: 1995
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 11
Source Type: Serial
Title: Transactions of the Birmingham and Warwickshire Archaeological Society (TBAS) Vol 114
Author/originator: Birmingham and Warwickshire Archaeology Society
Date: 2011
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 114
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Serial
Title: WMA vol 40 (1997)
Author/originator: Mould, C (ed)
Date: 1998
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 40
   
Images:  
There are no images associated with this record.  
back to top

Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
source TBAS Transactions of the Birmingham and Warwickshire Archaeological Society is a journal produced by the society annually. It contains articles about archaeological field work that has taken place in Birmingham and Warwickshire in previous years. Copies of the journal are kept by the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
source WMA West Midlands Archaeology. This publication contains a short description for each of the sites where archaeological work has taken place in the previous year. It covers Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire. Some of these descriptions include photographs, plans and drawings of the sites and/or the finds that have been discovered. The publication is produced by the Council For British Archaeology (CBA) West Midlands and is published annually. Copies are held at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
source WMANS West Midlands Archaeological News Sheet, a publication that was produced each year, this later became West Midlands Archaeology. The West Midlands Arcaheological News Sheet contains reports about archaeological work that was carried out in the West Midlands region in the previous year. It includes information about sites dating from the Prehistoric to the Post Medieval periods. It was produced the Department of Extramural Studies at Birmingham University. Copies are held at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
technique excavation Archaeologists excavate sites so that they can find information and recover archaeological materials before they are destroyed by erosion, construction or changes in land-use.

Depending on how complicated and widespread the archaeological deposits are, excavation can be done by hand or with heavy machinery. Archaeologists may excavate a site in a number of ways; either by open area excavation, by digging a test pit or a trial trench.
more -> 		back
period Medieval 1066 AD to 1539 AD (the 11th century AD to the 16th century AD)

The medieval period comes after the Saxon period and before the post medieval period.

The Medieval period begins in 1066 AD.
This was the year that the Normans, led by William the Conqueror (1066 – 1087), invaded England and defeated Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings in East Sussex.
The Medieval period includes the first half of the Tudor period (1485 – 1603 AD), when the Tudor family reigned in England and eventually in Scotland too.

The end of the Medieval period is marked by Henry VIII’s (1509 – 1547) order for the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the years running up to 1539 AD. The whole of this period is sometimes called the Middle Ages.
more -> 		back
period Post Medieval About 1540 AD to 1750 AD (the 16th century AD to the 18th century AD)

The Post Medieval period comes after the medieval period and before the Imperial period.

This period covers the second half of the reign of the Tudors (1485 – 1603), the reign of the Stuarts (1603 – 1702) and the beginning of the reign of the Hannoverians (1714 – 1836).
more -> 		back
monument YARD * A paved area, generally found at the back of a house. back
monument UNIVERSITY * A group of colleges and associated buildings belonging to a university. back
monument FIELDWORK * A usually temporary earthwork or fortification, the latter constructed by military forces operating in the field. Use more specific type where known. back
monument HOUSE * A building for human habitation, especially a dwelling place. Use more specific type where known. back
monument VILLAGE * A collection of dwelling-houses and other buildings, usually larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town with a simpler organisation and administration than the latter. back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument SETTLEMENT * A small concentration of dwellings. back
monument OVEN * A brick, stone or iron receptacle for baking bread or other food in. back
monument KILN * A furnace or oven for burning, baking or drying. Use specific type where known. back
monument BUILDING * A structure with a roof to provide shelter from the weather for occupants or contents. Use specific type where known. back
monument RUBBISH PIT * A pit where domestic waste material is deposited. back
monument STONE * Use only where stone is natural or where there is no indication of function. back
monument MANOR HOUSE * The principal house of a manor or village. back
monument PARK * An enclosed piece of land, generally large in area, used for hunting, the cultivation of trees, for grazing sheep and cattle or visual enjoyment. Use more specific type where known. back
monument FLOOR * A layer of stone, brick or boards, etc, on which people tread. Use broader site type where known. back
monument FEATURE * Areas of indeterminate function. back
monument DWELLING * Places of residence. back
monument POND * A body of still water often artificially formed for a specific purpose. Use specifc type where known. back
monument PRIORY * A monastery governed by a prior or prioress. Use with narrow terms of DOUBLE HOUSE, FRIARY, MONASTERY or NUNNERY. back
monument AGRICULTURAL BUILDING * A building used for an agricultural and/or subsistence purpose. Use more specific type where known. back
monument PIER * A structure of iron or wood, open below, running out into the sea and used as a promenade and landing stage. back
monument FIELD * An area of land, often enclosed, used for cultivation or the grazing of livestock. back
monument BRIDGE * A structure of wood, stone, iron, brick or concrete, etc, with one or more intervals under it to span a river or other space. Use specific type where known. back
monument MANOR * An area of land consisting of the lord's demesne and of lands from whose holders he may exact certain fees, etc. back
monument DRYING KILN * A furnace or oven used for drying items or materials. Use specific type where possible. back
monument CHAPEL * A freestanding building, or a room or recess serving as a place of Christian worship in a church or other building. Use more specific type where known. back
monument STRUCTURE * A construction of unknown function, either extant or implied by archaeological evidence. If known, use more specific type. back
monument FARM BUILDING * A building or structure of unknown function found on a farm. Use more specific type where known. back
monument SIGN * A board, wall painting or other structure displaying advice, giving information or directions back
monument ISLAND * A piece of land, sometimes man-made, completely surrounded by water. back
monument TRACKWAY * A pathway, not necessarily designed as such, beaten down by the feet of travellers. back
monument TEMPLARS CHURCH * A church, sometimes circular in plan, founded by the Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon, commonly known as the Knights Templar. back
monument STREAM * A natural flow or current of water issuing from a source. back
monument GRANARY * A building, or first-floor room in a building, for the dry and secure storage of grain after it has been threshed and winnowed. back
monument WALL * An enclosing structure composed of bricks, stones or similar materials, laid in courses. Use specific type where known. back
monument TEMPLE * Use for places of worship. For later landscape features use, eg. GARDEN TEMPLE. back
monument DOMESTIC * This is the top term for the class. See DOMESTIC Class List for narrow terms. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record