Information for record number MWA4135:
Cawston Deserted Medieval Village

Summary The site of the Medieval deserted settlement of Cawston. The settlement might have beome depopulated when Pipewell Abbey was established. The remains of the settlement are visible as a series of earthworks. The site is located 300m north of Fox Covert.
What Is It?  
Type: Deserted Settlement
Period: Medieval (1066 AD - 1539 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Dunchurch
District: Rugby, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 47 73
(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 Rous has a long entry for this village. The monastery of Pipewell appears to have depopulated the village. Beresford was unable to locate the site but suggested that it was located between Cawston House School and the stream.
2 The site of the hamlet of Cawston lies between Cawston Lodge and the main road from Bilton to Warwick. It was discovered a few years ago.
3 Medium Archaeology (B), period of desertion known but documentary evidence inferior in quantity.
4 No surface indications.
5 At Bloxam's location are earthworks indicative of field boundaries, possible house platforms and ditches.
6 See PRN 4144 for possible cropmark evidence for the former village.
7 The excavation of an area for a car park extension at Cawston House to the south east of the DMV, revealed no features or finds of archaeological interest (See WA 7403).
8 Trial trench investigation was undertaken across the Lime Tree village development area (centred SP 4750 7300) (EWA7308). Four visible features within a field to the west of Cawston House were investigated. Two were shown to be of certain modern origin; two others were undated but were most likely to be modern in date also. A single undated curvilinear gully was recorded in one trench but no other archaeological remains were found.
9 excavations by Stuart Palmer of Warwickshire Museum field Services. No archaeological remains were found in this area. Suggests that the DMV did not extend into this area.
10 Investigation of cropmarks recorded across this area by NMP. Two substantially sized ditches were recorded. One contained slag used in the production of metalwork; this is associated with the probable smithy excavated in the DMV to the northeast (see MWA4144). Medieval pottery was present within the fill of the other ditch. It is likely that it represents a continuation of DMV features. It is concluded that the north part of the site evidenced the very southern limit of Cawston DMV (MWA4144). This comprises some six field boundary ditches, a drain and an area of ridge and furrow.
 
Sources
Source No: 9
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Medieval Settlement Research Group Annual Report 14, 1999
Author/originator: Daniels, R. (Editor)
Date: 1999
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Rugby
Author/originator: Bloxam M H
Date: 1889
Page Number: 182
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 10
Source Type: Evaluation Report
Title: An Archaeological Evaluation on Land Northwest of Lime Tree Village, Cawston, Warwickshire
Author/originator: D Heale
Date: 2009
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Evaluation Report
Title: Lime Tree Village, Dunchurch, Warwickshire. Archaeological Evaluation
Author/originator: Havard T
Date: 2003
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Observation Report
Title: Arch Obs at Cawston House, Dunchurch
Author/originator: Gethin B
Date: 1995
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: OS Card 29NE1
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1967
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 29NE1
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Serial
Title: TBAS vol 66
Author/originator: Beresford M W
Date: 1945
Page Number: 99
Volume/Sheet: 66
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Serial
Title: DMVRG vol 6 1958
Author/originator:
Date: 1958
Page Number: Appendix B
Volume/Sheet: 6
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: SMR Card
Author/originator: Pehrson B
Date: 1983
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: PRN 3081
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Verbal communication
Title: R.C. Hingley personal comments
Author/originator: R C Hingley
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
There are no images associated with this record.  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
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 SMR Card Sites and Monuments Record Card. The Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record began to be developed during the 1970s. The details of individual archaeological sites and findspots were written on record cards. These record cards were used until the 1990s, when their details were entered on to a computerised system. The record cards are still kept at the office of the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
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 Documentary Evidence Documentary evidence is another name for written records. The first written records in Britain date back to the Roman period. Documentary evidence can take many different forms, including maps, charters, letters and written accounts. When archaeologists are researching a site, they often start by looking at documentary evidence to see if there are clues that will help them understand what they might find. Documentary evidence can help archaeologists understand sites that are discovered during an excavation, field survey or aerial survey. 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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technique Cropmark Cropmarks appear as light and dark marks in growing and ripening crops. These marks relate to differences in the soil below. For example, parched lines of grass may indicate stone walls. Crops that grow over stone features often ripen more quickly and are shorter than the surrounding crop. This is because there is less moisture in the soil where the wall lies.

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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 Modern The Modern Period, about 1915 AD to the present (the 20th and 21st centuries AD)

In recent years archaeologists have realised the importance of recording modern sites. They do this so that in the future people will be able to look at the remains to help them understand the events to which they are related.
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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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period modern About 1915 AD to the present (the 20th and 21st centuries AD)

In recent years archaeologists have realised the importance of recording modern sites. They do this so that in the future people will be able to look at the remains to help them understand the events to which they are related.
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monument HOUSE * A building for human habitation, especially a dwelling place. Use more specific type where known. back
monument VILLAGE * A collection of dwelling-houses and other buildings, usually larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town with a simpler organisation and administration than the latter. back
monument FOX COVERT * A small area of managed woodland, created to provide cover for foxes. back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument SETTLEMENT * A small concentration of dwellings. back
monument SCHOOL * An establishment in which people, usually children, are taught. back
monument LODGE * A small building, often inhabited by a gatekeeper, gamekeeper or similar. Use specific type where known. back
monument HAMLET * Small settlement with no ecclesiastical or lay administrative function. back
monument RIDGE AND FURROW * A series of long, raised ridges separated by ditches used to prepare the ground for arable cultivation. This was a technique, characteristic of the medieval period. back
monument ARCH * A structure over an opening usually formed of wedge-shaped blocks of brick or stone held together by mutual pressure and supported at the sides; they can also be formed from moulded concrete/ cast metal. A component; use for free-standing structure only. back
monument FEATURE * Areas of indeterminate function. back
monument DRAIN * An artificial channel for draining water or carrying it off. back
monument GULLY * A deep gutter, drain or sink. back
monument ABBEY * A religious house governed by an abbot or abbess. Use with narrow terms of DOUBLE HOUSE, MONASTERY or NUNNERY. back
monument ROAD * A way between different places, used by horses, travellers on foot and vehicles. back
monument BOUNDARY DITCH * A ditch that indicates the limit of an area or a piece of land. back
monument DESERTED SETTLEMENT * An abandoned settlement, usually of the Medieval period, often visible only as earthworks or on aerial photographs. back
monument FIELD * An area of land, often enclosed, used for cultivation or the grazing of livestock. 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 CAR PARK * A place where cars and other road vehicles may be parked and left. back
monument TRENCH * An excavation used as a means of concealment, protection or both. 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 HOUSE PLATFORM * An area of ground on which a house is built. A platform is often the sole surviving evidence for a house. back
monument MONASTERY * Houses specifically of monks, canons or religious men but not friars. back
monument STREAM * A natural flow or current of water issuing from a source. back
monument EARTHWORK * A bank or mound of earth used as a rampart or fortification. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record