Information for record number MWA5162:
Site of Saxon Cemetery to E of Alveston Manor

Summary The site of an Anglo Saxon burial site. Archaeological work has uncovered skeletons, cremation burials and hearths. The grave goods included jewellery, vessels and weapons. The cemetery was located to the north east of Alveston Manor Hotel.
What Is It?  
Type: Cemetery, Burial, Inhumation, Cremation, Gully, Ditch, Cinerary Urn
Period: Migration (410 AD - 800 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Stratford upon Avon
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 20 54
(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
Picture(s) attached

  
Description

  
Source Number  

1 1934: Human remains found in a gravel pit. At the time when Wellstood made his notes 64 skeletons had been discovered in an area roughly 41m by 46m. Most graves contained extended skeletons. Usually the heads were S and W. 29 of the skeletons were of men, 28 of women and seven of children. One elderly woman had a rich collection of grave goods including a large square-headed brooch, two saucer-brooches, a small penannular brooch, a string of beads, a finger ring and a buckle. Accessory vessels and buckets, spearheads, knives and toilet implements were found. Three or four iron penannular brooches, square headed brooches, saucer brooches and disc brooches occurred. 32 cremation burials were scattered about between the graves. Only a few of these vessels were ornamented. 21 hearths were found. It is uncertain how these related to the graves.
3 1970: More graves were found in W. Three cremations and seven inhumations. The cemetery was bounded by a palisade trench to the S.
4 Noted by Ordnance Survey.
5 Fragments of skull found in a Medieval field boundary ditch in the grounds of Alveston Manor Hotel may have been disturbed material from this cemetery (WA 8218).
6 The excavation of an evaluation trench adjacent to the known Anglo-Saxon cemetery recorded the remains of early Anglo-Saxon features including post holes, pits, gullies and a boundary ditch. Finds included early Anglo-Saxon pottery and an iron arrowhead. No graves were found but a possible disturbed cremation urn and the presence of human bone in a gully and other features suggested the cemetery may have extended into this area. (EWA7309)
7 Total number of burials excavated by Wellstood and Ford was 83 inhumations, 38 cremations and evidence for 4 more destroyed graves.
8 Plan of the site showing features from both 1934-6, and from 1971.
9 Large scale plan of the site showing areas excavated and features up to 1974.
10 Large scale plan of the cemetery from 1971.
11 Draft report with full details of the excavations from both the 1930s and the 1970s.
12 Notes on the analysis of the animal bones found in the 1970/1 excavation.
13 Tables of the bone analysis from
12.
14 Photograph from 1971
15 excavations in 2002 and 2003 revealed more of the cemetery. The probable south-western edge of the cemetery was established. A particular group of individuals in the south-western part seemed to have been interred later.
16 Post-excavation assessment for the 2002-2003 excavations. Includes a finds summary.
 
Sources
Source No: 7
Source Type: Article in monograph
Title: Origins: the Romano-British and Anglo Saxon Settlements
Author/originator: Palmer, N.J.
Date: 1997
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: Gazetteer of E A S Burials
Author/originator: Meaney A
Date: 1964
Page Number: 257
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 16
Source Type: Desk Top Study
Title: Alveston Manor Hotel, Alveston: Proposal for archaeological post-excavation analysis and reporting.
Author/originator:
Date: 2006
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
Author/originator: Wellstood
Date: 1935
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Proceedings of the T
   
Source No: 11
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: Alveston Manor Anglo Saxon site
Author/originator: Ford, W.J.
Date: 1988
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 12
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: Animal bone analysis from Alveston Manor
Author/originator: Durham University
Date: 1971
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 15
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: Archaeological excavation of an Anglo-saxon cemetery at Alveston Manor Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon
Author/originator: Jones C
Date: 2010
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 1053
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Evaluation Report
Title: Archaeological Evaluation at Alveston Manor Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Jones C
Date: 2002
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Report 0250
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Evaluation Report
Title: Archaeological evaluation at Alveston Manor Hotel, Tiddington Rd
Author/originator: Jones, C
Date: 1998
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 14
Source Type: Photograph
Title: Alveston Manor
Author/originator:
Date: 1971
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Plan
Title: Alveston Manor site
Author/originator:
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 9
Source Type: Plan
Title: Alveston Manor site.
Author/originator:
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 10
Source Type: Plan
Title: Anglo Saxon Cemetery at Alveston Manor
Author/originator:
Date: 1971
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: OS Card 46SE10
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1974
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 46SE10
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Serial
Title: WMANS no 13 (1970)
Author/originator: Rahtz, P (ed)
Date: 1970
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 13
   
Source No: 13
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: Animal bone from the Alveston Manor site.
Author/originator: Durham University
Date: 1971
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
An Anglo Saxon square-headed brooch found at a cemetery site at Alveston, Stratford
Copyright: Warwickshire County Council
Click here for larger image  
 
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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 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 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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monument CREMATION * A funeral rite in which the human body is burnt, usually on a pyre, leaving fragmentary charred or completely combusted remains. Often found buried, occasionally in a container associated with grave goods. back
monument HOTEL * A large building used for the accommodation of paying travellers and guests. back
monument TOILET * A small room or building containing a lavatory and, in more recent times, washing facilities. back
monument PALISADE * An enclosure of stakes driven into the ground, sometimes for defensive purposes. back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument SETTLEMENT * A small concentration of dwellings. back
monument CREMATION BURIAL * The site of the formal burial of cremated bone, sometimes 'urned' in a vessel or casket of glass, wood or, more commonly, ceramic. back
monument INHUMATION * An interment of unburnt, articulated human remains. Use specific type where known. back
monument URN * A garden ornament, usually of stone or metal, designed in the the form of a vase used to receive the ashes of the dead. back
monument FEATURE * Areas of indeterminate function. back
monument GRAVE * A place of burial. Use more specific type where known. back
monument GULLY * A deep gutter, drain or sink. back
monument CINERARY URN * Urn containing a cremation. Where component use with wider site type. back
monument BOUNDARY DITCH * A ditch that indicates the limit of an area or a piece of land. 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 FIELD * An area of land, often enclosed, used for cultivation or the grazing of livestock. back
monument GRAVEL PIT * A steep-sided pit formed by, and for, the extraction of gravel. back
monument CEMETERY * An area of ground, set apart for the burial of the dead. back
monument MANOR * An area of land consisting of the lord's demesne and of lands from whose holders he may exact certain fees, etc. 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 SQUARE * An open space or area, usually square in plan, in a town or city, enclosed by residential and/or commercial buildings, frequently containing a garden or laid out with trees. back
monument BURIAL * An interment of human or animal remains. Use specific type where known. If component use with wider site type. Use FUNERARY SITE for optimum retrieval in searches. back
monument HUMAN REMAINS * The unarticulated remains of the body of a human being. If articulated use inhumation. 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
monument FORD * A shallow place in a river or other stretch of water, where people, animals and vehicles may cross. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record