Information for record number MWA2188:
Excavations at Barrack Street, Warwick

Summary Evidence of the Medieval northern defences and suburban occupation of Warwick was uncovered during archaeological work. Ditches, wells, cess and rubbish pits and pottery, some decorated, were found on the north side of Barrack Street.
What Is It?  
Type: Ditch, Pit, Well, House
Period: Medieval (1066 AD - 1539 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
Description

  
Source Number  

1 Excavations carried out in 1972 between Joyce Pool and Barrack Street, in advance of redevelopment, revealed substantial traces of the northern defences of the town. These included a robber trench on the line of the 14th century town wall; evidence of 13th century dwellings along Barrack Street; and the late 11th century town ditch with a timber palisade. In the pottery recovered, several types have been observed, and examples of specific wares identified. Two finely decorated jugs were found, one of Worcester 'B' Ware and one from the Oxford region. The more general pottery types are those found commonly in the West Midlands from c1100 to c1400. Offprint in FI file.
2 The distribution of wells, cess and rubbish pits outside the ditch has partially revealed the layout of the medieval suburban settlement over a one acre area.
3 Letter from 1972 describing work in progress.
4 Brief summary of 1972 work.
5 Full report.
6 Excavation notebook.
 
Sources
Source No: 3
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Barrack Street
Author/originator: Klingelhofer, Eric C.
Date: 1972
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Excavation archive
Title: Barrack Street Excavation, Warwick
Author/originator: Klingelhofer, Eric C.
Date: 1972
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: Summary of Barrack Street Excavations 1972
Author/originator: Klingelhofer, Eric C.
Date: 1972
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: Barrack Street Excavations, Warwick 1972
Author/originator: Klingelhofer, Eric C.
Date: 1972
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Serial
Title: TBAS vol 88
Author/originator: various
Date: 1978
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Serial
Title: WMANS no 15 (1972)
Author/originator: Rahtz, P (ed)
Date: 1972
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 15
   
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 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
monument TOWN WALL * A fortified wall surrounding a town or city. back
monument POOL * A small body of water, either natural or artificial. back
monument HOUSE * A building for human habitation, especially a dwelling place. Use more specific type where known. back
monument PALISADE * An enclosure of stakes driven into the ground, sometimes for defensive purposes. back
monument SETTLEMENT * A small concentration of dwellings. back
monument ROBBER TRENCH * Use broader site type where known back
monument RUBBISH PIT * A pit where domestic waste material is deposited. back
monument DWELLING * Places of residence. back
monument TOWN DITCH * A ditch constructed to surround a town for defensive purposes. 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 WELL * A shaft or pit dug in the ground over a supply of spring-water. back
monument DEFENCE * This is the top term for the class. See DEFENCE Class List for narrow terms. 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 TOWN * An assemblage of public and private buildings, larger than a village and having more complete and independent local government. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record