Information for record number MWA1841:
Possible Iron Age Hillfort at Priory Park

Summary The site of a possible Iron Age hillfort. It survives partially as an earthwork. It is situated in Priory Park, 200m east of the Cape Industrial Estate, Warwick.
What Is It?  
Type: Hillfort?, Earthwork
Period: Iron Age (800 BC - 42 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Warwick
District: Warwick, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 28 65
(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
Picture(s) attached

 
Description

 
Source Number  

1 Possible hillfort. Priory Park. Ramparts in places triple, apparently enclosing crest of hill, about 1.8 ha. Under examination (1971-2). A possible Iron Age enclosure comprising a series of massive Ramparts. It has usually been assumed that these were raised when the ground was landscaped in Post Medieval times, but Webster has drawn attention to the fine strategic position. At the time of writing (early 1972) W Ford is investigating the area by trial trenching as the opportunity arises, but the evidence of date or purpose has not yet been established.
2 A section across one of these earthworks positively indicated that this was not a hillfort.
3 The prominent section and ditch on the east side of the site appears to correspond closely to the edge of a belt of ornamental woodland shown on a plan of 1711 and while it is possible that this followed a pre-existing boundary, it is perhaps more likely that the earthworks were the result of 17th century landscaping. Certainly they do not seem to continue to the west, beyond the area of landscaping.
4Examination of Environment Agency lidar does not show any positive traces, even slight, that might suggest a hillfort. This does not totally rule out the possibility.
 
Sources

Source No: 3
Source Type: Conservation Plan
Title: Warwick Priory: A Conservation Statement
Author/originator: Palmer N
Date: 1999
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Version 1.0
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Serial
Title: TBAS vol 86
Author/originator: Thomas N
Date: 1974
Page Number: 32
Volume/Sheet: 86
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: Unpublished document
Author/originator: Booth M
Date: 1986
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Verbal communication
Title: Pers. Comm.
Author/originator: B Gethin
Date: 2013 onwards
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
Earthworks in Priory Park, Warwick
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Click here for larger image  
 
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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
technique Earthwork Earthworks can take the form of banks, ditches and mounds. They are usually created for a specific purpose. A bank, for example, might be the remains of a boundary between two or more fields. Some earthworks may be all that remains of a collapsed building, for example, the grassed-over remains of building foundations.

In the winter, when the sun is lower in the sky than during the other seasons, earthworks have larger shadows. From the air, archaeologists are able to see the patterns of the earthworks more easily. Earthworks can sometimes be confusing when viewed at ground level, but from above, the general plan is much clearer.

Archaeologists often carry out an aerial survey or an earthwork survey to help them understand the lumps and bumps they can see on the ground.
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period Iron Age About 800 BC to 43 AD

The Iron Age comes after the Bronze Age and before the Roman period. It is a time when people developed the skills and knowledge to work and use iron, hence the name ‘Iron Age’ which is given to this period. Iron is a much tougher and more durable metal than bronze but it also requires more skill to make objects from it. People continued to use bronze during this period.
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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).
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monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. 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 BOUNDARY * The limit to an area as defined on a map or by a marker of some form, eg. BOUNDARY WALL. Use specific type where known. back
monument INDUSTRIAL ESTATE * An area of land owned by a developer, whether a private entrepreneur or a public authority, and divided into plots for leasing or sale to manufacturing or commercial concerns which may share some common services. back
monument PRIORY * A monastery governed by a prior or prioress. Use with narrow terms of DOUBLE HOUSE, FRIARY, MONASTERY or NUNNERY. back
monument RAMPART * A protective earthen mound, often the main defence of a fortification. 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 DITCH * A long and narrow hollow or trench dug in the ground, often used to carry water though it may be dry for much of the year. back
monument HILLFORT * A hilltop enclosure bounded by one or more substantial banks, ramparts and ditches. Use more specific type where known. back
monument EARTHWORK * A bank or mound of earth used as a rampart or fortification. back
monument FORD * A shallow place in a river or other stretch of water, where people, animals and vehicles may cross. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record