Information for record number MWA521:
Roman buildings, Alcester.

Summary The remains of at least two Roman buildings were found during an excavation. Roman pottery, coins and a brooch were also found. The site was located to the east of Bleachfield Street, 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: )
Scheduled Monument (Grade: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Description

 
Source Number  

1 Three small excavations were made by Davis in the 'Blacklands'. A trench 9.7m long was dug in a N to S direction in the allotment field to the E of Bleachfield Street. In this short trench, the greatest depth of which was 2m, three 'concrete' floors were found - one at 1.5m, one at 1.8m and one at 2.0m. Very little was found until a depth of 0.9 M had been reached. At this level a lot of rubble, consisting of broken stones, mortar pipes, etc, was turned up. The middle floor had a stone flue about 0.2m square, in which was burnt material. Associated with the top floor two round and one square brick 'pillars' were found. In addition many pieces of painted plaster, broken flue pipes etc were found. A little pottery, iron and one coin of Carausius were found.
2 Davis' diary records much additional detail. General inference and two 'very inadequate' sketch plans show the location of his digging. At least two buildings, possibly more, are indicated. Finds include a brooch of probable mid C2 date and some Samian fragments. Coloured tile, hypocaust and part of a column are recorded. Also four coins and various types of pottery.
4 Salvage recording.
 
Sources

Source No: 2
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: WM
Author/originator: Seaby W A
Date:
Page Number: No 61
Volume/Sheet: Map and Notes
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Bibliographic reference
Title: WMA vol 30
Author/originator: SC
Date: 1987
Page Number: 40
Volume/Sheet: 30
   
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 54
Author/originator: Davis B W
Date: 1929
Page Number: 76-7
Volume/Sheet: 54
   
Images:  
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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.
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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 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
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 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 FLOOR * A layer of stone, brick or boards, etc, on which people tread. Use broader site type where known. back
monument FLUE * A passageway, duct or pipe use for the conveyance of heat, gasses, smoke or air. back
monument ALLOTMENT * A share or portion of land, allotted to a person, often used for growing, vegetables, fruit, etc. back
monument HYPOCAUST * A Roman under-floor heating system in which hot air heated by a stoked furnace, flowed through channels, created by either raising the floor on pillars of brick and tile or cutting channels into the concrete floor and tiling over them. back
monument FIELD * An area of land, often enclosed, used for cultivation or the grazing of livestock. back
monument BLEACHFIELD * Large field or yard used to lay fabrics out ready for bleaching. back
monument TRENCH * An excavation used as a means of concealment, protection or both. 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 COLUMN * Use for free standing column. back
monument ROUND * A small, Iron Age/Romano-British enclosed settlement found in South West England. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record