Information for record number MWA525:
Site of Roman Buildings, Field E of Bleachfield St, Alcester.

Summary The remains of buildings and roads, probably of Roman date were observed in the results of a geophysical survey. The features are also visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs. The site is located east of Bleachfield Street, Alcester.
What Is It?  
Type: Building, Road
Period: Romano-British (43 AD - 409 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Alcester
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 08 56
(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  

2 Probable roads, buildings, linear features show on aerial photograph.
3 In 1975 there was a proposal to build housing on this site. A geophysical survey indicated a number of archaeological features and development was prevented.
4 Patterns of sub-surface resistivity indicated streets with buildings fronting onto them and spreads of stone and cobbles over the whole area surveyed. In 1985 ploughing destroyed at least 0.1m of important archaeological levels over an area of about 150m by 180m. The field was walked in September 1985 and concentrations of pottery - including Samian - and glass recorded. There were also spreads of tile, masonry and gravel. The field has been regularly visited by metal detector users since the ploughing.
4 Report of plough damage .
5 A Roman coin of Lucius Verus (161-69) was reported to Birmingham Museum.
6 A small watching brief (WA 8204) in 1997 confirmed Roman occupation on this site.
7 Photographs relating to the damage reported in
4.
8 Notification about management agreement from EH.
9 Archival material.
 
Sources
Source No: 1
Source Type: Aerial Photograph
Title:
Author/originator: J Pickering
Date: 1962
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: SP4489 C/D/E/X
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Coin evidence in Alcester
Author/originator: Symons D
Date: 1986
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Descriptive Text
Title: Alcester Plough Damage, Warwicks SAM 128
Author/originator: Parker-Pearson M
Date: 1985
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: Alcester Plough Dama
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Geophysical Survey Report
Title: A Geophysical Survey at Alcester
Author/originator: Poulton
Date: 1975
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 9
Source Type: Map
Title: Roman Alcester, SAM 128
Author/originator: DoE/EH
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Observation Report
Title: Arch WB, Roman Town - Alcester
Author/originator: Crowe, C J
Date: 1997
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Photograph
Title: Alcester
Author/originator: Alcester Archaeological Office
Date: 1985
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: SMR card : text
Author/originator: JMG
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 8
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: Roman Town, Alcester
Author/originator: EH
Date: 2001
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
There are no images associated with this record.  
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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 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
technique Geophysical Survey The measuring and recording of electrical resistivity or magnetism in order to determine the existence and outline of buried features such as walls and ditches. Geophysical techniques include resistivity survey, magnetometer survey and ground penetrating radar. View Image back
technique Cropmark Cropmarks appear as light and dark marks in growing and ripening crops. These marks relate to differences in the soil below. For example, parched lines of grass may indicate stone walls. Crops that grow over stone features often ripen more quickly and are shorter than the surrounding crop. This is because there is less moisture in the soil where the wall lies.

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technique Aerial Photograph Aerial photographs are taken during an aerial survey, which involves looking at the ground from above. It is usually easier to see cropmarks and earthworks when they are viewed from above. Aerial photographs help archaeologists to record what they see and to identify new sites. There are two kinds of aerial photographs; oblique and vertical. 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 SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument ARCHAEOLOGICAL FEATURE * Use only for features assumed to be archaeological but which cannot be identified more precisely without further investigation .Use more specific term where known 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 ARCH * A structure over an opening usually formed of wedge-shaped blocks of brick or stone held together by mutual pressure and supported at the sides; they can also be formed from moulded concrete/ cast metal. A component; use for free-standing structure only. back
monument FEATURE * Areas of indeterminate function. 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 FIELD * An area of land, often enclosed, used for cultivation or the grazing of livestock. back
monument MUSEUM * A building, group of buildings or space within a building, where objects of value such as works of art, antiquities, scientific specimens, or other artefacts are housed and displayed. back
monument BLEACHFIELD * Large field or yard used to lay fabrics out ready for bleaching. 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