Information for record number MWA1982:
Site of Anglo Saxon Cemetery at Longbridge

Summary The site of an Anglo Saxon cemetery dating to the Migration period which was discovered in 1872. Many finds including brooches, amber beads, a sword and shield bosses were found with the human remains. It was located 500m west of Leafield Bridge.
What Is It?  
Type: Cemetery, Burial, Inhumation
Period: Migration (410 AD - 800 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Warwick
District: Warwick, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 27 63
(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 1875: Two workmen digging for gravel found several skeletons and Anglo Saxon weapons. Burgess watched the progress and noted that the graves were 0.8m deep, not more than 0.3m into gravel, and that some skeletons were laid indiscriminately on others. One grave was of a young man over 1.8m tall, another of a woman with a gold bracteate, a large cruciform brooch, a few amber beads and a silver bracelet. The grave next to this contained a bucket and two saucer brooches. Other finds included a glass vessel, a pot, two buckets, a sword, a spearhead, several javelin heads, knives, at least six shield-bosses, seven saucer brooches, two flat ring brooches, two small-long brooches, a strip of gilt bronze, a key, and belt buckles. The excavation covered an area 15m by 18m and other graves may have been left undisturbed.
2 The supposed site of the cemetery was examined before redevelopment, but nothing was found and its exact position remains uncertain.
3 Descriptive text.
4 OS card.
5 Correspondence from 1949 about the Myton brooch.
6 Letter from 1949 to Birmingham University.
7 Letter from 1960.
8 Correspondence from 1968.
9 Annotated map of the site showing areas of archaeological work.
10 Note of material held by the British Museum.
11 Plan.
12 Engineers' plans from 1967.
 
Sources
Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: E A S Burials
Author/originator: Meaney A
Date: 1964
Page Number: 261
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: The Myton brooch
Author/originator: Leeds, E. Thurlow
Date: 1949
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Anglo Saxon cemeteries at Warwick
Author/originator: WM
Date: 1949
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Anglo Saxon brooches
Author/originator: Saunders, Margaret
Date: 1960
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Saxon cemetery, Longbridge Park
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey, Ministry of Works and WCC
Date: 1968
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 10
Source Type: Note
Title: Anglo Saxon Material from Warwickshire
Author/originator:
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 9
Source Type: Plan
Title: Anglo Saxon cemetery, Longbridge
Author/originator:
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 11
Source Type: Plan
Title: Earl of Warwick's estate at Longbridge
Author/originator:
Date: 1870
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 12
Source Type: Plan
Title: Longbridge Anglo Saxon site
Author/originator: WCC
Date: 1967
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: OS Card 25NE6
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1968
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Serial
Title: Arch J
Author/originator: Burgess J T
Date: 1876
Page Number: 378-81
Volume/Sheet: 33
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Serial
Title: WMANS no 11
Author/originator: Taylor S
Date: 1968
Page Number: 20
Volume/Sheet: 11
   
Source No:
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: The Saxons in Warwickshire
Author/originator: Burgess J.T.
Date: 1876
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
An Anglo Saxon arm ring found during excavations at a cemetery site near Longbridge, Warwick
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Click here for larger image  
 
An Anglo Saxon cruciform brooch found during excavations at a cemetery site near Longbridge, Warwick
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Click here for larger image  
 
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
source Arch J The Archaeological Journal is published by the Royal Archaeological Institute. It presents the results of archaeological and architectural survey and fieldwork on sites and monuments of all periods as well as overviews of such work. The journal is published annually. back
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
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.
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monument UNIVERSITY * A group of colleges and associated buildings belonging to a university. back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument INHUMATION * An interment of unburnt, articulated human remains. Use specific type where known. 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 GRAVE * A place of burial. Use more specific type where known. 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 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 CEMETERY * An area of ground, set apart for the burial of the dead. back
monument BURIAL * An interment of human or animal remains. Use specific type where known. If component use with wider site type. Use FUNERARY SITE for optimum retrieval in searches. back
monument HUMAN REMAINS * The unarticulated remains of the body of a human being. If articulated use inhumation. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record