Information for record number MWA504:
Roman well, Alcester.

Summary A Roman well which was probably reused during the Medieval period. Roman and Medieval pottery was found in the well which was situated in the area of Birch Abbey, Alcester.
What Is It?  
Type: Well, Findspot
Period: Romano-British - Medieval (43 AD - 1539 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 1951: Masonry discovered in the yard of the factory of Needle Industries Ltd. A trial excavation proved it to be the top of a well with a light-brown earth filling, rich in a variety of Roman sherds. In 1957 it was completely excavated. Immediately to the NW was a deposit rich in Roman sherds including amphorae. The shaft of the well was well-constructed; internal diameter 0.8m. The stone lining extended for 4.6m and the total depth was 4.8m. The contents of the well indicated a complex history. The bottom layer contained two complete pots, other pottery and part of a flue tile. layer 2 contained Medieval tiles and carved stone and layer 3 contained Roman and Medieval finds and two complete human skeletons (see PRN 5497). layers 4 to 8 were fairly free of artefacts.
3 Site no 13 in list.
4 Probably a Roman well re-excavated in the Medieval period.
 
Sources

Source No: 3
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: WM
Author/originator: PMB
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Roman Alcester
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Serial
Title: TBAS vol 77 (1959)
Author/originator: Birmingham Archaeological Society
Date: 1961
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 77
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Serial
Title: TBAS vol 77 (1959)
Author/originator: Birmingham Archaeological Society
Date: 1961
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 77
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title:
Author/originator: PMB
Date: 1988
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
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 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
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 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
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 SHAFT * Use only if function unknown, otherwise use specific type. back
monument YARD * A paved area, generally found at the back of a house. back
monument LAYER * An archaeological unit of soil in a horizontal plane which may seal features or be cut through by other features. back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument CARVED STONE * A stone (including standing stones, natural boulders and rock outcrops) decorated with carved motifs. back
monument STONE * Use only where stone is natural or where there is no indication of function. back
monument FLUE * A passageway, duct or pipe use for the conveyance of heat, gasses, smoke or air. back
monument FINDSPOT * The approximate location at which stray finds of artefacts were found. Index with object name. back
monument ABBEY * A religious house governed by an abbot or abbess. Use with narrow terms of DOUBLE HOUSE, MONASTERY or NUNNERY. back
monument WELL * A shaft or pit dug in the ground over a supply of spring-water. back
monument FACTORY * A building or complex, housing powered machinery and employing a large workforce for manufacturing purposes. Use specific monument type where known. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record