Information for record number MWA5497:
Roman well

Summary A well dating from the Roman period was excavated in the area of Birch Abbey, Alcester. The well had been re-used during the Medieval period. Finds included Medieval animal bone, tile and carved stone. Two human skeletons were also found in the well.
What Is It?  
Type: Well
Period: Romano-British - Medieval (43 AD - 1539 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 1956. Excavation of a Roman well. Layer 2 (second from bottom) contained Medieval tile and a carved stone, a heraldic animal with collar, probably a corbel or quoin. Layer 3 merged with 2 and contained much Medieval tile, animal bones and two human skeletons. Layers 4 to 8 produced few finds.
3 Site no 13 in list.
4 Probably a Roman well re-excavated in the Medieval period.
 
Sources
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 77 (1959)
Author/originator: Birmingham Archaeological Society
Date: 1961
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 77
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Serial
Title: TBAS vol 77 (1959)
Author/originator: Birmingham Archaeological Society
Date: 1961
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 77
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title:
Author/originator: PMB
Date: 1988
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
There are no images associated with this record.  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
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
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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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 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 CARVED STONE * A stone (including standing stones, natural boulders and rock outcrops) decorated with carved motifs. back
monument ABBEY * A religious house governed by an abbot or abbess. Use with narrow terms of DOUBLE HOUSE, MONASTERY or NUNNERY. back
monument WELL * A shaft or pit dug in the ground over a supply of spring-water. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record