Trans Worcestershire Archaeol Soc 15

A recently discovered RB settlement is reported. Roundhouses, other post-built structures, corndriers, ditches and gullies were associated with pottery consistent with occupation dating to within the second--mid third century. Well preserved charred cereal remains from a corndrier and two spindle whorls, as well as the trading links suggested by the pottery, provided some evidence of the rural economy.

Salvage recording along the pipeline revealed two IA pits on Madeley Heath in the parish of Belbroughton (H&W), and these produced a wide range of material including salt containers from Droitwich. The unusual composition of the artefactual assemblage suggested that deposition is likely to have been highly selective, and, therefore, the result of ritual deposition. The remainder of the pipeline was characterised by a thin scatter of finds of the Mesolithic/Early Neolithic onwards.

Details the architectural history of one of only three fully vaulted Romanesque churches in England. Less than half the medieval fabric remains, however, it provides much evidence of the architectural history. The fabric preserves work from three main building phases: the south transept, crossing, and stumps of the north transept and nave are Romanesque; the choir, the western bay of the Lady chapel, the north and north-east chapels, and part of the south-east chapel represent an early Gothic rebuilding, while the choir vault, crossing tower, the sacristy in the angle of the south transept and the south choir aisle, and the remodelled south-east chapel are Decorated Gothic. The work of all three periods represents some of the finest work in English medieval architecture, and with the Gothic fabric arguably at the forefront of design at the time. Further, it presents many fascinating archaeological problems which are instructive methodologically in that they illustrate the importance of the careful observation of details in order to obtain an accurate understanding of the evolution of the building. The documentation is presented first, followed by discussion of the different phases of construction (Romanesque, Gothic, and post-1287/88 fire), in separate sections. In each case the state of research is examined as a prelude to the detailed examination of the fabric in its architectural historical context.

The Dougharty family of Worcester were prolific land surveyors during the heyday of local mapmaking. Recent discoveries of family papers and maps reveal an unusual biographical background and many additional examples of their work.

Describes the organisational and financial difficulties surrounding the construction of the bridge in the 1850s.

Reports work at the site of a medieval settlement, moated manor house, and agricultural field system, scheduled since 1992. Evaluation was undertaken at the behest of the owner to explore the possibility of further ploughing within the scheduled area. Three trenches were excavated. Medieval deposits were discovered in trenches two and three. The creation and maintenance of property boundaries and drainage ditches, raising of the ground surface to form terraced enclosure platforms, and construction of buildings on the platforms were in evidence. A predominantly Malvernian pottery assemblage dates this activity to the thirteenth-fourteenth centuries, although a later fifteenth- to sixteenth- century date is also possible. A hollow-way was also present.