Information for record number MWA1773:
Site of Roman Settlement at Shrewley Common

Summary The site of a Roman settlement which was uncovered during building work. An excavation produced cobbled floors, pits, pottery, and building and occupation debris. Its location is 500m southeast of Castle Meadow Bridge, Shrewley Common.
What Is It?  
Type: Settlement, Pit
Period: Romano-British (43 AD - 409 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Shrewley
District: Warwick, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 21 67
(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 1977: A Leamington builder digging foundation trenches unearthed Roman pottery. A three week excavation was mounted by R Lamb. A layer of cobbles with pieces of tile and pottery was found. Three pits were located. Pottery and limestone ashlar were found in pit 1. pit contained tile and was cut by a post hole. A second trench at the front of the plot revealed another cobbled surface with a clear edge. Traces of a gully were also found. A third trench produced a clay layer containing Roman tile. A further trial trench to the extreme SE of the property produced no finds. Pottery was mostly Severn Valley, black burnished and grey wares with some colour coated and Mancetter mortaria. Date range of C3-C4. The tile included imbrex and tegula fragments and some thick floor tile. At least one stone building is represented. Another building had been roofed with lias limestone. Fragments of burnt daub or oven lining and slag were found. The rest of the settlement is probably to the W.
4 Finds description.
5 Romano-British remains recorded during observation of groundworks on the adjacent property to the north east in 2001.
6 Press cutting from 1977.
7 excavation archive material.
8 List of the finds including building and occupation debris.
9 A letter to the owner of Gatehouse Farm.
 
Sources
Source No: 9
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Roman Villa at Shrewley Common
Author/originator: Lamb R
Date: 1977
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Excavation archive
Title: Roman settlement at Shrewley Common
Author/originator:
Date: 1977
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Excavation archive
Title: Romano British Settlement, Shrewley Common
Author/originator:
Date: 1977
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: TBAS vol 89
Author/originator: RGL
Date: 1978
Page Number: 163-6
Volume/Sheet: 89
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: Romano British Settlement at Shrewley Common
Author/originator: Lamb R
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Excavation Records
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Newspaper/Magazine Article
Title: Roman Villa at Shrewley Common
Author/originator: Leamington Courrier
Date: 1977
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Observation Report
Title: Archaeological Observation at Oak View, 99 Shrewley Common, Shrewley
Author/originator: Jones, C
Date: 2001
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 0137
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Plan
Title: TBAS vol 89
Author/originator: RGL
Date: 1978
Page Number: Fig 2
Volume/Sheet: 89
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: WM
Author/originator: WM
Date:
Page Number: A198
Volume/Sheet: Catalogue
   
Images:  
There are no images associated with this record.  
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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 WM Warwickshire Museum Aerial Photograph Collection. A collection of oblique and vertical aerial photographs and taken by various organisations and individuals, including the Royal Airforce, The Potato Board, Warwickshire Museum. The collection is 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.
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technique Trial Trench A small regular hole that is usually square or rectangular in shape. Archaeologists dig trial trenches to discover if there are any archaeological remains at a particular location. See also excavation. back
period Roman About 43 AD to 409 AD (the 1st century AD to the 5th century AD)

The Roman period comes after the Iron Age and before the Saxon period.

The Roman period in Britain began in 43 AD when a Roman commander called Aulus Plautius invaded the south coast, near Kent. There were a series of skirmishes with the native Britons, who were defeated. In the months that followed, more Roman troops arrived and slowly moved westwards and northwards.
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monument LAYER * An archaeological unit of soil in a horizontal plane which may seal features or be cut through by other features. 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 BUILDING * A structure with a roof to provide shelter from the weather for occupants or contents. Use specific type where known. back
monument STONE * Use only where stone is natural or where there is no indication of function. back
monument FLOOR * A layer of stone, brick or boards, etc, on which people tread. Use broader site type where known. back
monument GULLY * A deep gutter, drain or sink. back
monument CASTLE * A fortress and dwelling, usually medieval in origin, and often consisting of a keep, curtain wall and towers etc. back
monument PIT * A hole or cavity in the ground, either natural or the result of excavation. Use more specific type where known. back
monument VILLA * A term for a type of house, with varying definitions according to period. Roman villas were high-status and usually associated with a rural estate, whereas Georgian and later period villas were often semi-detached, town houses. back
monument GATEHOUSE * A gateway with one or more chambers over the entrance arch; the flanking towers housing stairs and additional rooms. Use with wider site type where known. 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 TRENCH * An excavation used as a means of concealment, protection or both. back
monument MEADOW * A piece of grassland, often near a river, permanently covered with grass which is mown for use as hay. back
monument FARM * A tract of land, often including a farmhouse and ancillary buildings, used for the purpose of cultivation and the rearing of livestock, etc. Use more specific type where known. back
monument POST HOLE * A hole dug to provide a firm base for an upright post, often with stone packing. Use broader monument type where known. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record