Information for record number MWA506:
Roman defences, Alcester.

Summary Remains of the defences of the Roman town of Alcester were found east of Moorfield Road, Alcester.
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 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 1976: A trench, 38m long, was cut and some points on the N section recorded. From the E end a dark mixed layer extended 2.75m W. W of this was a group of stones c0.8m wide. Between 6 and 8.5m W a layer of clean red gravel sealing a clay deposit which overlay a mixed dark stony layer. The only major feature further W was a very pronounced gravel deposit between 17m and 21.5m W. It was considerably thicker in the middle than at the ends. Beyond this were organic deposits. 1977-78: A number of gully holes for drainage were observed. These indicated the edge of a marshy area which was open during the Roman period. The gravel feature in the trench and in gully holes 7 and 8 may represent the gravel bank behind the rampart. No trace of a town wall was found (as on the NW of the town) and it is probable that the C4 defences ran on a different line. The absence of a town ditch is probably due to the presence of the marsh.
2 Included in Alcester sites list as site No 57.
3 Description of above work in WMA.
4 An archaeological evaluation on land next to No.2, Bulls Head Yard, Alcester, recovered evidence for the robbed-out late Roman town wall which was thought to have run through the area.
5 The large linear feature found in foundation trenches [during an archaeological obsevation adjacent to 2 Bulls Head Yard] was undoubtedly the same feature that was found in the 1997 evaluation. This was interpreted as representing the robbed-out remains of the Roman town wall, which is thought to have run through the area.
 
Sources
Source No: 5
Source Type: Archaeological Report
Title: Archaeological Observation on Land next to 2 Bulls Head Yard, Alcester
Author/originator: Coutts C & Gethin B
Date: 2002
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Report 0226
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: WM
Author/originator: PMB
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Roman Alcester
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: Bulls's Head Yard, Alcester: 1976-8
Author/originator: Booth, P M
Date: 1980
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Evaluation Report
Title: Archaeological Evaluation of Land next to No 2, Bulls Head Yard, Alcester, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Jones C
Date: 1997
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Serial
Title: WMANS no 21
Author/originator: Booth P
Date: 1978
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 21
   
Images:  
There are no images associated with this record.  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
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 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
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
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 TOWN WALL * A fortified wall surrounding a town or city. 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 TOWN DEFENCES * Defensive fortifications such as ramparts, ditches and stone walls, built to defend a town or city. back
monument STONE * Use only where stone is natural or where there is no indication of function. back
monument FEATURE * Areas of indeterminate function. back
monument TOWN DITCH * A ditch constructed to surround a town for defensive purposes. back
monument GULLY * A deep gutter, drain or sink. back
monument RAMPART * A protective earthen mound, often the main defence of a fortification. back
monument ROAD * A way between different places, used by horses, travellers on foot and vehicles. back
monument LINEAR FEATURE * A length of straight, curved or angled earthwork or cropmark of uncertain date or function. 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 MARSH * A low lying area of land that is usually waterlogged at all times and is flooded in wet weather. 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