Information for record number MWA530:
Cropmark enclosure 400m east of Beauchamp Court, Coughton

Summary A double ditched sub-rectangular enclosure of Romano-British date is visible as a cropmark on aerial photographs. It is situated north of Arden Road, Alcester.
What Is It?  
Type: Double Ditched Enclosure
Period: Romano-British (43 AD - 409 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Coughton
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 08 58
(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  

2 Crop marks of three sides of a double ditched sub-rectangular enclosure with a north entrance.
3 Projected trial trenches from 1983.
4 trial trenching revealed that the enclosure was double ditched in places and Romano-British in date. Sherds of Severn Valley ware were found in all of the excavated sections of ditch.
5 A series of three evaluation trenches were excavated across the ditches of the enclosure in October 2015 by Cotswold Archaeology. These trenches revealed that the ditches were originally substantial, but unstable with a series of fills and sands possibly indicating the presence of a bank between the ditches originally. The inner ditch was identified in all three of the trenches between 3.4m and 6.05m wide and between 0.81m and 1.3m in depth, with the outer between 2.5m and 3.6m wide and between 0.78m and 1.05m deep in two of the trenches. It may be that the lack of an outer ditch in trench 31 may indicate a staggered entrance though this is uncertain. A small amount of pottery sherds of mid-1st to 2nd century AD date was recovered. Silts at the bottom of the ditches seem to imply that there was a prolonged accumulation of waterlogged 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: Evaluation Report
Title: Land north of Arden Forest Industrial Estate, Alcester, Warwickshire: Archaeological Evaluation
Author/originator: Julian Newman
Date: 2015
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Evaluation Report
Title: Land within, and north of Arden Forest industrial Estate, Alcester, Warwickshire
Author/originator: Cotswold Archaeological Trust
Date: 2001
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 01055
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Plan
Title: Northern Industrial Estate Relief Road, Alcester
Author/originator:
Date: 1983
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Record Card/Form
Title: SMR card : text
Author/originator: JMG
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
A double-ditched enclosure visible as a cropmark to the north of Alcester
Copyright: WA Baker
Date: 1969
Click here for larger image  
 
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
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 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 Trial Trench A small regular hole that is usually square or rectangular in shape. Archaeologists dig trial trenches to discover if there are any archaeological remains at a particular location. See also excavation. back
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
monument DOUBLE DITCHED ENCLOSURE * An area of land enclosed by two parallel ditches. Use with specific shaped enclosure where known. back
monument INDUSTRIAL ESTATE * An area of land owned by a developer, whether a private entrepreneur or a public authority, and divided into plots for leasing or sale to manufacturing or commercial concerns which may share some common services. back
monument RECTANGULAR ENCLOSURE * A rectangular shaped area of land enclosed by a boundary ditch, bank, wall, palisade or similar barrier. back
monument ROAD * A way between different places, used by horses, travellers on foot and vehicles. back
monument ENCLOSURE * An area of land enclosed by a boundary ditch, bank, wall, palisade or other similar barrier. Use specific type where known. 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 FOREST * A large tract of land covered with trees and interspersed with open areas of land. Traditionally forests were owned by the monarchy and had their own laws. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record