Information for record number MWA6278:
Excavations at Thelsford Priory

Summary Archaeological excavations uncovered a series of monastic buildings from the Medieval period. Many of them were constructed of timber. Finds included roof tiles, a coin and pottery all dating to the Medieval period. The site is located 700m south east of Wasperton.
What Is It?  
Type: Building
Period: Medieval (1066 AD - 1539 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Charlecote
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 27 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: )
Scheduled Monument (Grade: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Description

  
Source Number  

1 Excavation in 1966 indicated that about half the area of the Priory precinct was covered by buildings which were either entirely of timber, or with stone footings to support timber superstructure. These conventual buildings had suffered no damage except for continuous ploughing.
2 All these buildings were aligned E-W. It was difficult to identify the exact purpose of each building as encountered in the trial trenches. To the N of the church was an area of metalling with earlier buildings beneath. To the W of the church there was a building with dressed limestone footings whose floor levels showed three periods of destruction, with pottery of 15th and 16th century and a large hearth. Beneath this building was evidence for an earlier building with 13th-14th century pottery. At the W extremity of the site was a stone-lined cesspit containing bones and 15th century pottery. A coin of Edward I was found nearby. Four other pits were found on the site. Also at the W was a large hollow filled with ashy soil, roof tile, building debris and 16th century pottery. A well-made drain led from the complex of buildings to the W of the church towards the brook.
3 Further Excavation in 1972 on the W of the site demonstrated that destruction debris extended 15m into this area and beneath this were traces of timber buildings. Three definite structures included a small hut, a sunken clay linear area and a lowered area containing roof tiles and an iron fish harpoon.
4 Plan.
5 Area of SAM revised 1996.
 
Sources
Source No: 1
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: WMANS no 9 1966
Author/originator: Grey M
Date: 1966
Page Number: 3
Volume/Sheet: 9
   
Source No: 2
Source Type: Excavation Report
Title: ASVRP
Author/originator: Grey M
Date: 1966
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 3
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Serial
Title: WMANS no 15 (1972)
Author/originator: Rahtz, P (ed)
Date: 1972
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 15
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Serial
Title: WMANS no 15 (1972)
Author/originator: Rahtz, P (ed)
Date: 1972
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 15
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Scheduling record
Title: SAM Description
Author/originator: English Heritage
Date: 1996
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet: 21578
   
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 WMANS West Midlands Archaeological News Sheet, a publication that was produced each year, this later became West Midlands Archaeology. The West Midlands Arcaheological News Sheet contains reports about archaeological work that was carried out in the West Midlands region in the previous year. It includes information about sites dating from the Prehistoric to the Post Medieval periods. It was produced the Department of Extramural Studies at Birmingham University. 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 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
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 HOLLOW * A hollow, concave formation or place, which has sometimes been dug out. back
monument PRECINCT * The ground immediately surrounding a place, particularly a religious building. back
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 DRAIN * An artificial channel for draining water or carrying it off. back
monument PRIORY * A monastery governed by a prior or prioress. Use with narrow terms of DOUBLE HOUSE, FRIARY, MONASTERY or NUNNERY. back
monument CHURCH * A building used for public Christian worship. Use more specific type where known. back
monument PIT * A hole or cavity in the ground, either natural or the result of excavation. Use more specific type where known. back
monument HEARTH * The slab or place on which a fire is made. back
monument HUT * A building of basic construction, usually smaller in size than a house and constructed from a variety of materials such as mud, turf, branches, wood, brick, concrete or metal. Use more specific type where known. back
monument WELL * A shaft or pit dug in the ground over a supply of spring-water. back
monument STRUCTURE * A construction of unknown function, either extant or implied by archaeological evidence. If known, use more specific type. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record