Information for record number MWA488:
Roman building, Alcester.

Summary The remains of a Roman building were found during an excavation. Roman pottery and coins were also found on the site which was located on the south side of Priory Road, Alcester.
What Is It?  
Type: Building
Period: Romano-British (43 AD - 409 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Alcester
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 08 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: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Description

  
Source Number  

1 Some finds were made in 1925 and the area was excavated in 1938. It had been badly disturbed, but wall footings were uncovered which measured 2.3m by 0.6m wide. The wall was of unbonded sandstone. The N end of the wall was destroyed and the S end squared off. Traces of a hearth associated with Samian and a nail were found. Pottery indicates Flavian-Trajanic occupation, a radiate coin and others of the house of Constantine. Pottery included Samian and coarse ware, mortaria, amphorae, a small ceramic human figure, a glass bottle or jar stamped O S ^ B II L, various other metal objects and fifteen coins.
3 Students of the Dept of Archaeology of the University of Birmingham conducted a fortnight's dig on part of the Cattle Market site adjacent to the garden excavated by Seaby (MWA488). Although the area had been much disturbed by recent pits, the site revealed post holes and beam slots of early occupation dated by finds of pottery and coins of the late C1 and early C2.
4 Occupied from the late C1 to the late C3 (or early C4). Evidence of timber buildings, later replaced by stone buildings. Finds include a range of late C1 to late C3 pottery and coins of Nerva, Hadrian, Carausius and possibly Trajan.
5 Noted in Alcester sites list.
 
Sources
Source No: 2
Source Type: Descriptive Text
Title: WM
Author/originator: Seaby W A
Date:
Page Number: 44
Volume/Sheet: Map and Notes
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Descriptive Text
Title: Index of Alcester sites compiled c.1983 and typescript of a state of knowledge document for Alcester
Author/originator: Booth P M
Date: 1983
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Roman Alcester
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: WMANS
Author/originator: HVH
Date: 1962
Page Number: 4
Volume/Sheet: 5
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: TBAS vol 66
Author/originator: Seaby W A
Date: 1945
Page Number: 35-46
Volume/Sheet: 66
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: SMR card : text
Author/originator: JMG
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
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
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
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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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.
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monument UNIVERSITY * A group of colleges and associated buildings belonging to a university. back
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 BEAM SLOT * A trench dug to contain a sill beam, a horizontal timber beam used as a foundation for the wall of a building. Use wider site type where known. back
monument MARKET * An open space or covered building in which cattle, goods, etc, are displayed for sale. back
monument PRIORY * A monastery governed by a prior or prioress. Use with narrow terms of DOUBLE HOUSE, FRIARY, MONASTERY or NUNNERY. back
monument ROAD * A way between different places, used by horses, travellers on foot and vehicles. 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 HEARTH * The slab or place on which a fire is made. back
monument GARDEN * An enclosed piece of ground devoted to the cultivation of flowers, fruit or vegetables and/or recreational purposes. Use more specific type where known. back
monument WALL * An enclosing structure composed of bricks, stones or similar materials, laid in courses. Use specific type where known. back
monument POST HOLE * A hole dug to provide a firm base for an upright post, often with stone packing. Use broader monument type where known. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record