Archaeological Test Pits at Royal Fort 2014 (original) (raw)
Related papers
2008
The English Civil War (1642-51) was a significant period in British history, as it changed irrevocably the relationship of Parliament and the King or Queen of Britain. While the war is famous for the battles Marston Moor and Naseby, along with the execution of a King, towns and cities throughout the country played a vital and largely overlooked role in the outcome of the war. This paper is focused on the Royal Fort, one the largest fortifications constructed during this period in the city of Bristol (important largely because of its port) after the Royalists captured the city from the Parliamentarians in 1643. Comparisons to the contemporary fortifications at Oxford and Newark, and other sites in Bristol are examined to determine what elements were used in its original construction. The exact location of the fort is not known; therefore using such archaeological techniques such as geophysics, cartographic and topographical analysis this work has placed the fort in the landscape of the 1640s. With this new location, Geographical Information System (GIS) and view-shed analysis has highlighted the significant position the fortification held during the 1640s civil war landscape of Bristol. This work does illustrate how the English Civil War can be studied from an archaeological viewpoint, and why further examination of this period is necessary.
Etheridge, D. 2012, land off Crews Hole Road, Bristol: Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment Report
A review of the archaeological evidence has found that with the exception of the kiln site and the chapel there are no other known heritage assets within the study area. The course of the former Roman road from Bath to Sea Mills is thought to have run along the crest of the northern slopes of the Avon valley, but no Roman remains are known from the vicinity. During the later Middle Ages the study area was part of the Royal Forest of Kingswood. This was partitioned in the later 17th century and subject to piecemeal development. The documentary evidence is by no means complete and does not preclude within the study area the presence of buried archaeological remains dating from the prehistoric, Roman, medieval and early post-medieval periods. It is possible the buried remains of 18th century structures are preserved within the study area, while the presence of structural remains relating to an early 19th century pottery and house are likely to be preserved. Buried archaeological features relating to the former Wesleyan Methodist chapel may also be preserved.
Earthwork Survey and Assessment Brandon Hill Fort, Bristol 2009
2009
In July 2009, an earthwork survey and assessment of the English Civil War fortification of Brandon Hill (centred on ST: 57905 72980) was conducted. This evidence from this survey suggests a complex series of fortifications that was constructed by both Parliamentarian and Royalist forces during the civil war (1642-51), and that these features are of national importance. Combining this evidence with historical and cartographic research, the study area has an excellent potential for structures, features or deposits of archaeological interest within the built and buried environments dating to the English Civil War period. While noting the study areas status as Scheduled Ancient Monument, further research is recommended in accordance with briefs by the Archaeological Officer for Bristol City Council and English Heritage.
2007
Over August Bank Holiday 2006, Oxford Archaeology (OA) carried out archaeological investigations with Channel 4 TV's Time Team at Buckingham Palace, Westminster, London (NGR TQ 290 796). The project was designed with Channel 4 as a contribution to Her Majesty the Queen's 80th birthday celebrations. Five investigative trenches were opened in the Palace Gardens. South-west of the Palace, evidence was found of Henry Wise's early 18th-century canal, built for the 1st Duke of Buckingham. Finds and cartographic evidence show that it had been abandoned and filled by c 1750. North-east of the canal, natural gravel was overlain by soil layers containing clay pipe and pottery dated to the mid-late 17th century, perhaps Civil War occupation evidence. These layers were then overlain by a thick deposit of brick rubble dating to the 18th and 19th centuries, possibly construction or demolition material from a staircase that once descended to the canal from Buckingham's garden terrace. In a trench to the north-east of the lawns, at of depth of 2.6 m, natural gravel was cut by a deep feature filled with brick, tile and `bottle bricks' of late 18thearly 19th-century date and other architectural stonework. This is likely to be the robber trench from the demolition and removal of Buckingham's garden terrace walling in the late 18th/early 19th century. West of the Palace, excavations revealed that the once formal gardens here had been cleared to natural and re-laid with flint cobbles and gravel (presumably to aid drainage) and finally consolidated with clay and soil for the present landscaped lawns. This operation probably occurred after 1820, under plans initiated by architect John Nash and carried out by successive head gardeners into the 1860s. A remarkable diamond studded gold earring was found here. Landscaping evidence and Victorian garden features were also observed in a trench at the west corner of the Gardens. 05/06/07 2 Gradiometer survey by GSB Prospection Ltd. west of the Palace produced anomalies that may be associated with the Civil War defences and the Goring Great Garden Wall, while a block of high resistance was proved by excavation to be associated with the base of steps leading to the ornamental canal. GPR survey within the Quadrangle revealed modern services and historic structures. High amplitude responses appear to correspond with planned walls found during excavations carried out here by Henry Flitcroft in 1744 and include walls of buildings sited within the early 17th century Mulberry Garden. Tentative traces were found to the south-east of the Quadrangle of structures which may relate to some part of the sequence of buildings (Blakes/Goring/Arlington House) which occupied the site until Buckingham's House was constructed at the turn of the 18th century; a central fountain known from this period was also identified.
Test pit excavation within currently occupied rural settlement in East Anglia in 2008
This paper reports on the fourth year of the University of Cambridge Higher Education Field Academy (HEFA) test pit excavation project which combines education and outreach with the archaeological investigation of currently occupied rural settlements (CORS) by the excavation of 1-metre square test pits in open spaces (mostly private gardens) within areas currently occupied by settlement. This paper summarises the results of 167 test pits excavated in 2008 in eleven parishes across six counties in eastern England as well as those from two other counties, Kent and Derbyshire carried out as part of advanced HEFA courses or community-centred archaeological events.
2019
In the middle of the seventeenth century the social, political and economic landscape of Great Britain was dramatically affected by the resulting English Civil War (1642-1651). Whilst the names of battles such as Marston Moor and Naseby are relatively well known, the construction, manning, maintenance and positioning of the fortifications affecting almost every town and city is less understood. Adopting archaeological landscape techniques this thesis examines three case studies of Bristol, Gloucester and Worcester. Utilising these techniques and examining the positioning of the fortifications and artillery via two new methodologies, GIS Cartographic Analysis and GIS viewshed analysis, the thesis has demonstrated that the artillery positioned in Parliamentarian Bristol in 1643 was unable to target all areas and therefore why Washington’s Breach occurred. The technique has also confirmed Bernard de Gomme’s fears of inadequate defences in Royalist Bristol in 1645. Additional viewshed analysis of Gloucester in 1643 has also demonstrated the weakness of the defences south to Friar’s Orchard and explains David Papillon’s recommendations after the siege. Whether Royalist or Parliamentarian, this research has demonstrated that control of the towns and cities was vitally important for either side to effectively campaign to win the conflict. The landscape defined the fortification. Design and construction of the fortifications were of secondary importance to having control of the high ground. The case study of Bristol has demonstrated that, such was the importance of high ground; it created a defensive line too large to hold. Whilst the landscape defined the fortification in Bristol, for Worcester, and Gloucester, the destruction of the suburbs and property to create the necessary ‘fields of fire’ to stop the artillery of the age, had an immense impact on the landscape and the people that once occupied it.
New light on an old farm: test pit excavations at Hillgrove, Ombersley
Worcestershire Recorder, 2023
In 2021-22 the North Worcestershire Archaeology Group (NWAG) undertook test pit excavations at Hillgrove, Boreley Lane, Ombersley. This work aimed to identify and record potential archaeological features, deposits, and finds at the site, including those associated with the nearby Roman settlement at Holt Fleet Caravan Park and the documented historic farmstead of Hillside Cottage. Four periods of activity were revealed by the excavations. Period 1 was defined by a scatter of later prehistoric and Roman finds, which offer glimpses of riverside occupation along the Severn gravels. This was followed in Period 2 by a small but sharply defined assemblage of early post-medieval finds, which relate to the occupation of a small farm known as Aylwards or Halwards. The farmhouse survives in the north-east of the site as the 17th- and 18th-century Hillside Cottage. Periods 3 and 4 are characterised by continued occupation into the late post-medieval and modern periods, and are associated with the remains of brick outbuildings, garden and horticultural features, as well as a large assemblage of pottery, glass, and other artefactual and environmental material.