Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club & Archaeological Society

An evaluation carried out in January 1994 in advance of construction of the Bentley by-pass located two areas of archaeological interest. One contained a probable MBA slab `burial'; the other contained a series of very shallow postholes, undated except for the presence of a few struck flints, thought to be a prehistoric occupation site. The latter area was subsequently excavated and revealed three rectangular structures probably of Saxon date. A single MBA pit was also revealed. A watching brief of adjacent areas carried out by Southampton City Archaeology Unit revealed a few outlying features. Additional sections are contributed by Jane Timby on `The pottery' (66-71), Tess Durden on `Struck flint' (71), John Letts on `Carbonised plant remains' (71), Chris Salter on `Iron slag' (71), and Steve Ford on `Bone' (71).

Fieldwork connected with the study of local Saxon charter bounds has located the remains of a substantial water channel, following the southern boundary of Riverside Park on the outskirts of Southampton. These relate closely to the conjectured position of a feature called the `new river' on the Saxon charter of 1045 for South Stoneham. This essay discusses the possibility that this channel may be the remains of the feature mentioned in the Saxon charter, and looks at the history of the river in the vicinity of Woodmilll and Gater's Mill.

From the reign of Elizabeth I until the C19th, country house stables were built for show. They were a highly important part of a great aristocratic establishment, and horses were often better housed than lesser servants. The best materials and quality craftsmanship were lavished on the external appearance of the stable block so that it would complement and enhance the architecture of the great house. Internal fittings, too were often impressive, and these riding stables must be clearly distinguished from lowly, farmyard stables. This paper focuses on the stables at Chawton House; the best-preserved (and perhaps only) Elizabethan riding stables in Hampshire. Unfortunately, early stable blocks have a poor survival rate, suffering radical remodelling or demolition as fashions change, with interior fittings faring even worse. A brief note is made of an early building at Chawton that seems to be associated with hunting or hawking.

An illustrated note on `A Romano-British intaglio from Headbourne Worthy, Hampshire' by G T Denford (177), and comments on previous articles relating to `The Romanesque façade of Winchester Cathedral: corrections and additions', by J P McAleer (178).