Information for record number MWA3797:
Medieval features at Park House, Bridge End, Warwick

Summary Evidence for a causeway was found at Bridgend, Warwick during an excavation. It ran down to the old Bridge. Remains of timber framed buildings were also found. All the features were of Medieval date. The buildings appear to have been cleared in the 19th century. More recent excavations indicate the survival of structural remains to the south of the 1983 excavations.
What Is It?  
Type: Building, Hearth
Period: Medieval (1066 AD - 1539 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Warwick
District: Warwick, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 28 64
(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 Trial excavations at Park House revealed over 1.5m of stratified deposits going back to the 13th century or earlier at the site of the Medieval bridge over the River Avon. Until the 18th century the bridge (PRN 1963) lay in the shadow of Warwick Castle, under Caesar's Tower. When a new bridge was built up-river and large areas of the surrounding countryside emparked the Medieval bridge was neglected and soon collapsed. The grounds to Park House, now being developed, run down to the old bridge and encompass the Medieval frontage on the street leading to the river. excavation on the frontage has so far encountered the stone footings of three buildings, with intact floor deposits and hearths, and an external courtyard. It appears that each successive House was built on top of the ground floor remains of the previous ones, thus raising buildings above the river.
2 excavations were completed in April 1984. The earliest feature on the site was a stone-revetted causeway which led through the marshes to the Old bridge. Rubbish and silt accumulated against the causeway and eventually it dried out enough for Houses to be built. The earliest buildings fronted the causeway, which came to be known as Little Street. Later on the gravel courtyards behind the buildings were encroached upon by Houses fronting on Mill Street. The earliest pottery seems to date to the 12th-13th century.
4 The excavation uncovered a causeway on the approaches to the bridge, which must have been in existence by c AD 1200. A series of timber framed buildings was built on the frontage until the frontage was finally cleared at the turn of the 19th century. The archaeological remains relate largely to the 13th-16th centuries. Smithing seems to have been one of the most important trades here although the evidence for this comes mainly from documentary sources.
5 More recent excavations, in 1996, indicate the survival of structural remains to the south of the 1983 excavations. 13th-18th century deposits were recorded, with 1.35m of largely Medieval stratigraphy. The street frontage is shown on a map of 1788, and it is likely that the density of remains will extend this far south.
 
Sources
Source No: 1
Source Type: Article in serial
Title: Medieval Archaeology: Medieval Britain and Ireland in 1983
Author/originator: S M Youngs, J Clark and T B Barry
Date: 1984
Page Number: 203-265
Volume/Sheet: 28
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Article in serial
Title: Medieval Archaeology: Medieval Britain and Ireland in 1984
Author/originator: S M Youngs, J Clark and T B Barry
Date: 1985
Page Number: 158-230
Volume/Sheet: 29
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: WMA
Author/originator: Cracknell S
Date: 1984
Page Number: 54
Volume/Sheet: 27
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Evaluation Report
Title: Archaeological Evaluation at Park House, Bridge End
Author/originator: Jones G C
Date: 1996
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Serial
Title: Transactions of the Birmingham and Warwickshire Archaeological Society (TBAS) Vol 95
Author/originator: Birmingham and Warwickshire Archaeology Society
Date: 1990
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 95
   
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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 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
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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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.
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monument HOUSE * A building for human habitation, especially a dwelling place. Use more specific type where known. back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. 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 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 MILL * A factory used for processing raw materials. Use more specific mill type where known. See also TEXTILE MILL, for more narrow terms. back
monument FEATURE * Areas of indeterminate function. back
monument TOWER * A tall building, either round, square or polygonal in plan, used for a variety of purposes, including defence, as a landmark, for the hanging of bells, industrial functions, etc. Use more specific type where known. back
monument CASTLE * A fortress and dwelling, usually medieval in origin, and often consisting of a keep, curtain wall and towers etc. back
monument HEARTH * The slab or place on which a fire is made. back
monument COURTYARD * An uncovered area, surrounded or partially surrounded by buildings. 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 CAUSEWAY * A road or pathway raised above surrounding low, wet or uneven ground. back
monument TIMBER FRAMED BUILDING * A building constructed with a basic timber framework; between the members are panels which can be infilled with timber, wattle and daub, plaster, brick or other materials. back
monument MARSH * A low lying area of land that is usually waterlogged at all times and is flooded in wet weather. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record