Information for record number MWA603:
Site of Ford 100m E of Bidford Bridge

Summary The site of a ford, a shallow point used by people, animals and vehicles for crossing the River Avon. The ford dates back to the Roman period and was found during an archaeological excavation. It is situated 100m east of Bidford Bridge.
What Is It?  
Type: Ford
Period: Romano-British (43 AD - 409 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Bidford on Avon
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 09 51
(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 The dredging of a deep channel resulted in the discovery of an area of compact gravel, which when cut into by the bucket of the drag-line, was seen to contain a number of timber piles, some shod with iron tips. With the aid of divers the ford was shown to be about 22m wide and constructed by driving the iron-tipped piles at intervals of 1.3m, forming an irregular grid over the whole area. Gravel was heaped over the piles, compacted, then a paving of limestone slabs, raising the crossing above the bed of the river as a submerged causeway. The sides of the causeway were reinforced by a series of further unshod piles forming a continuous kerb. Placed among them were a number which projected above the surface of the river, which not only indicated the line and width of the ford, but may also have marked the depth of the river. Pottery finds were obtained from the paved surface and some sherds, including one of Samian came from the rammed gravel.
2 A number of similar fords are known in Britain and Gaul.
3 Report of rescue operation.
4 One of the timber piles was dated to 1560+/-110 bp (390 ad).
5 General notes on location and geology of Bidford.
6 Map.
7 Notes that Archaeologia LXXIII says that the original paving was still in the meadow in 1923, and that Severn Trent reported paving surviving on the north side in 1955.
 
Sources
Source No: 7
Source Type: Correspondence
Title: Notes on Warwickshire O.S. 6 inch sheets
Author/originator: Various
Date: 1956 & 1979
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Descriptive Text
Title: Suggested Reconstruction of a Roman Ford
Author/originator: Unknown
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Map
Title: Bidford
Author/originator:
Date:
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory Report
Author/originator: Williams REG
Date: 1978
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: The Roman Ford at Bidford on Avon
Author/originator: Ford, W J
Date: 1970
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: Archaeological Rescue Operation: Causeway taking Ryknild Street over the Avon
Author/originator: Gardner PJ
Date: 1970
Page Number: WMBFI 603
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Unpublished document
Title: Notes on Bidford Topography and Geology
Author/originator: S. Hirst
Date: 1978
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
source Archaeologia Archaeologia, a journal published by the Society of Antiquaries of London. The journals contain articles relating to the archaeology of Britain and Europe. Recent 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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technique Radiocarbon Dating Another name for radiocarbon dating is C14 dating. It is used to find out how old some archaeological remains are. Archaeologists do this by measuring the amount of radioactive carbon left in samples of organic material (from the remains of plants or animals).

All organic materials contain radioactive and non-radioactive carbon in fixed amounts while they are part of living plants or animals. When the plant or animal dies the radioactive carbon starts to decay. By comparing the amount of radioactive carbon left in the organic material with the amount of stable carbon, archaeologists can find out how old it is.
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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 PILE * Component: Use wider site type where known. back
monument BRIDGE * A structure of wood, stone, iron, brick or concrete, etc, with one or more intervals under it to span a river or other space. Use specific type where known. back
monument CAUSEWAY * A road or pathway raised above surrounding low, wet or uneven ground. back
monument MEADOW * A piece of grassland, often near a river, permanently covered with grass which is mown for use as hay. back
monument LABORATORY * A group of buildings or rooms equipped with apparatus for scientific experiments or other research, testing and investigations. 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