Information for record number MWA464:
Roman defences, Alcester.

Summary A section of the Roman defences around the town of Alcester were found on the north side of Gas House Lane.
What Is It?  
Type: Town Defences
Period: Romano-British (43 AD - 409 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Alcester
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 09 57
(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: )
Scheduled Monument (Grade: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Description

 
Source Number  

1 Observation of a sewer trench revealed a section through the town defences of Roman Alcester similar to that revealed further N (MWA479).
2 Preliminary trenching at a housing site, Gas House Lane (SP 08 57) yielded evidence of occupation and possible traces of defences.
4 Noted.
 
Sources

Source No: 4
Source Type: Article in serial
Title: Britannia: Roman Britain in 1988
Author/originator: S S Frere, MWC Hassall and R S O Tomlin
Date: 1989
Page Number: 257-345
Volume/Sheet: 20
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: WM
Author/originator: Booth P
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Roman Alcester
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: SAM Local Index
Author/originator: DoE
Date: 1983
Page Number: 3
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Verbal communication
Title: Pers. Comm.
Author/originator: Sidaway D
Date: 1978
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
There are no images associated with this record.  
back to top

Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
none Scheduled Monument Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAMs) are those archaeological sites which are legally recognised as being of national importance. They can range in date from prehistoric times to the Cold War period. They can take many different forms, including disused buildings or sites surviving as earthworks or cropmarks.

SAMs are protected by law from unlicensed disturbance and metal detecting. Written consent from the Secretary of State must be obtained before any sort of work can begin, including archaeological work such as geophysical survey or archaeological excavation. There are nearly 200 SAMs in Warwickshire.
back
source Britannia Britannia, the journal of the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies which contains articles about the archaeology of Roman Britain. It is published annually and copies are held at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
source WM Warwickshire Museum Aerial Photograph Collection. A collection of oblique and vertical aerial photographs and taken by various organisations and individuals, including the Royal Airforce, The Potato Board, Warwickshire Museum. The collection is held at the Warwickshire Sites and Monuments Record. back
period Roman About 43 AD to 409 AD (the 1st century AD to the 5th century AD)

The Roman period comes after the Iron Age and before the Saxon period.

The Roman period in Britain began in 43 AD when a Roman commander called Aulus Plautius invaded the south coast, near Kent. There were a series of skirmishes with the native Britons, who were defeated. In the months that followed, more Roman troops arrived and slowly moved westwards and northwards.
more ->
back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument TOWN DEFENCES * Defensive fortifications such as ramparts, ditches and stone walls, built to defend a town or city. back
monument SEWER * A large drain or conduit for carrying away wastes. back
monument DEFENCE * This is the top term for the class. See DEFENCE Class List for narrow terms. back
monument TRENCH * An excavation used as a means of concealment, protection or both. back
monument GAS HOUSE * An ancilliary building, usually to provide gas for lighting a particular building (eg. railway stations, factories, etc) as opposed to public GAS WORKS. 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