a
NETWORK NEWS
The newsletter of the Leicestershire and Rutland Archaeological Network
NUMBER 33: March 2008
EDITORIAL
The eight months that have elapsed
since publication of the last issue of
Network News have proved to be of
great significance for the pursuit of
archaeology in Leicestershire, to say
the least.
The South East Leicestershire Iron
Age Treasure has been purchased,
and the project to display it at the
Harborough Museum and elsewhere is
under way. The significance of the
Treasure lies as much in the fact that
most of it was recovered by controlled
excavation of archaeological deposits
as it does in the objects themselves.
Students of Late Iron Age numismatics
and ritual practice argue that major
developments in our understanding of
these phenomena will arise from
research into and publication of the
site and its objects.
The Battle of Bosworth is now
commemorated by the new exhibition
at the Heritage Centre, which was
formally opened in February 2008. The
exhibition itself is complemented by
the Bosworth Field Investigation
evidence laboratory, which introduces
the techniques used to study the
archaeology of the battlefield.
‘Time Team’ undertook their first ever
three day investigation in the County,
at Stonton Wyville in the late summer
of 2007, on the evidence of a dense
pottery scatter of early Anglo-Saxon
date recorded by fieldwalking. The
remains of
Anglo-Saxon
timber
buildings were revealed with good
dating evidence. Underlying this was a
substantial Iron Age site which showed
up beautifully on the geophysics. A
temporary exhibition on the results of
this excavation is planned for
Donington-le-Heath Manor House in
2009-2010.
The acquisition of prehistoric and
Anglo-Saxon jewellery through the
Treasure process, together with the
releasing
of
the
archives
of
excavations on Bronze Age barrows at
Cossington, occasioned a redisplay of
the archaeology cases at Charnwood
Museum in January 2008. A rolling
programme of changing the case
contents is planned, incorporating
some of the most exciting objects
already in the Collections together with
new material as it becomes available.
The Mountsorrel late Roman bucket,
and the Rothley villa shale table leg,
are just two features in the programme
for the next year.
A major new archaeological exhibition
on ritual practices associated with
disposal of the dead from the Neolithic
into the early Modern period is in
preparation. This will be launched at
Heritage Services
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Donington-le-Heath Manor House in
June 2008.
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CONFERENCE:
PEOPLE AND THEIR HERITAGE
The Community Heritage Initiative
Conference 2008
26h April 2008, between 10.00 and
4.30pm,
the
Rothley
Centre,
Mountsorrel Lane, Rothley
Archaeological Wardens and other
archaeological and heritage volunteers
are invited to join Heritage Wardens at
this FREE conference, which will
provide an opportunity for heritage and
conservation enthusiasts to meet and
see what others are doing. Speakers
include Chris Gordon of Natural
England, and Colin Hyde of East
Midlands Oral History Archive, as well
as volunteers from the Lubenham and
Sapcote Heritage Groups and staff of
Leicestershire County Council to give
updates on local projects. Light
refreshments
will
be
provided
throughout the day, but people
attending will need to make their own
arrangements for lunch.
Networking is a key aspect of the day
and if you do want to bring displays or
information along please let CHI know.
Further details, and a booking form,
can be sought from the CHI at Holly
Hayes (see details at end of this
newsletter)
or
by
e-mail
to
chi@leics.gov.uk .
RUTLAND PUBLICATIONS
(1) THE OAKHAM PARISH FIELD
WALKING SURVEY
Elaine Jones 2007
96pp 23 BW figs and plates
This book, written and published by
Elaine Jones, the Archaeological
Warden for Uppingham, presents and
interprets the results of fieldwalking
over 33 fields covering some 500
acres around Oakham. The project
was undertaken by the Rutland Local
History
and
Record
Society’s
Archaeological Team between 1984
and 1997.
The
production
of
accessible
publications of fieldwalking surveys, in
print or online, should be high on the
list of priorities of all Fieldwork Groups.
This book provides a model for such
projects, providing as it does
background
information
on
the
landscape, geology and archaeology
of Oakham, the aims and methods of
the survey, and a series of periodbased chapters. These cover the
Mesolithic through to the Middle Ages,
and give what the author describes as
an interim report, as many of the finds
have yet to be identified by a
specialist. This may be a problem
confronting all Fieldwork Groups:
Leicestershire Museums can provide
an identification service, but both time
and
knowledge
are
limited.
Professional expertise can also be
bought at commercial rates by Groups:
Leicestershire Museums may be able
to help Groups make contact with
specialists in particular finds types.
(2) THE HERITAGE OF RUTLAND
WATER
Robert Ovens and Sheila Sleath
(editors) 2007
680pp Full colour throughout
This is the fifth volume in the Rutland
Record Series produced by the
Rutland Local History and Record
Society. The culmination of a threeyear community project, this is the
most ambitious programme that the
Society has ever undertaken. Twenty
authors discuss subjects ranging from
the underlying geology of Rutland
Water to the management of its nature
reserves, from the history of the
Heritage Services
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families that once lived nearby to the
types of boat that now sail its waters.
Subjects of archaeological interest
include the Society’s excavations of
medieval settlements at Nether
Hambleton
and
Whitwell,
the
archaeology of the Gwash Valley, and
the canals of Rutland.
(3) RUTLAND RECORD
The Rutland Local History and Record
Society has published 27 volumes of
Rutland Record, with the 28th due out
later this year. The Record includes
reports on archaeology, archive,
museum
and
history
subjects
pertaining to the County.
The
archaeological
content
embraces
reports on the Society’s own fieldwork,
and selected reports on work
undertaken
by
professional
contractors.
(4) EXCAVATION REPORTS ON
WORK DONE IN RELATION TO THE
CREATION OF RUTLAND WATER
The publication of ‘The Heritage of
Rutland Water’ provided an opportunity
to draw attention to three monographs
that have been produced over the last
27 years concerning excavations
occasioned by the creation of the
reservoir. The first of these was written
by Malcolm Todd, and published by
Leicestershire Museums in 1981. This
was the first of the service’s
Archaeological Reports series, and
describes the excavation in 1976 of an
‘Iron Age and Roman settlement at
Whitwell’ on the north shore of the new
reservoir.
The second report to appear covers
the Early ‘Anglo-Saxon Cemetery at as
Empingham II’, discovered by chance
in 1974 and excavated under salvage
conditions. 135 inhumations and one
cremation were recorded: these were
published in 1996 by Oxbow Books
(Oxbow Monograph 70), Jane R.
Timby being the author.
The third volume is ‘The Archaeology
of Rutland Water’. Written by Nicholas
J. [Nick] Cooper and published in 2000
as Leicester [University] Archaeology
Monograph no. 6, this deals with six
sites recorded between 1967 and 1973
at the eastern end of the reservoir,
including the ‘Empingham I’ Early
Anglo-Saxon cemetery, Iron Age,
Roman
and
Early Anglo-Saxon
settlements, and Middle Anglo-Saxon
burials.
An
Early
Anglo-Saxon
settlement excavated in 1990 at
Tickencote is also included.
A systematic fieldwalking survey of 25
fields in Empingham and on the
Hambleton ‘peninsula’ was undertaken
by Leicester University in 1990-1994: a
short summary was published by Nick
Cooper in Transactions of the
Leicestershire Archaeological and
Historical Society [TLAHS] 72 (1998).
(5) EARTHWORKS AND
CROPMARKS
‘The Medieval Earthworks of Rutland’
was the first volume to be published –
in 1983 - by Leicestershire Museums
of Robert F. [Fred] Hartley’s surveys of
11th-18th century AD earthworks in
Leicestershire, including Leicester and
Rutland. These volumes describe and
illustrate – mostly by plan – the
earthworks, and map the ridge and
furrow of each area. Subsequent
volumes
have
covered
the
administrative Districts of North-West
Leicestershire (1984), Melton (under
the title of ‘North-East Leicestershire’,
in 1987), and Charnwood, Leicester,
Blaby and Oadby & Wigston (under the
title of ‘Central Leicestershire’, in
1989).
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The volume covering south west
Leicestershire
(the
Borough
of
Hinckley & Bosworth) is in an
advanced state of preparation, to be
published by Leicestershire Museums
Archaeological Fieldwork Group. Fred
has done most, if not all, of the
earthwork surveys needed to enable
Harborough District to be published,
copies of which are lodged in the
Historic Environment Record with all of
the published ones.
‘Past Worlds in a Landscape’ written
by Fred and the late James [Jim]
Pickering
and
published
by
Leicestershire Museums in 1985,
maps the crop mark evidence from
Leicestershire: Leicester and Rutland
are again included.
WHERE TO FIND THESE BOOKS
The books described in (1) and (2),
together with some volumes of Rutland
Record and other publications of the
RLHRS, may be purchased at Rutland
County Museum, Catmose Street,
Oakham, LE15 6HW (tel. 01572
758440), subject to availability. The
Society itself can be contacted by
writing to the RLHRS c/o the Rutland
County
Museum:
membership
enquiries should be directed to the
Hon. Membership Secretary, and mail
orders for publications to the Hon
Editor.
Copies of the books described in
Sections (4) and (5) above, an
incomplete run of Rutland Record, and
a full set of TLAHS, are available for
consultation at County Hall, Glenfield,
Leicester, in the Environment and
Heritage
Service’s
Archaeology
Library. Contact Richard Pollard for an
appointment.
IMAGES OF ENGLAND COMPLETED
In 13,000 rolls of film since 1999,
Images of England, the English
Heritage initiative to create one of the
UK's largest on-line image libraries,
concluded in the autumn of 2007.
The project is a point-in-time visual
record of the country's listed historic
buildings over a seven year period.
Each image appears with the listing
description as at February 2001. More
than 300,000 monuments, structures
and buildings - over 80% of England's
listed
buildings
have
been
photographed.
Visit www.imagesofengland.org.uk
PARTNERSHIP FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION:
Archaeological Reports by Local
Government Authority
(April 2006 – March 2007)
The following is an edited version of a
document
that
summarises
the
archaeological projects commissioned
and completed as part of the planning
(development control) process in
Leicestershire and Rutland in the
financial year 2006-7. The document
was produced by Leicestershire
County
Council’s
Planning
Archaeology Team, part of the Historic
and Natural Environment Team
HNET).
Blaby District Council
Projects commissioned: 13, comprising
Trial trenching 5; Attendance [watching
briefs and other recording under
similar conditions] 6; Building Survey 2
Projects completed: 10, comprising
Heritage Services
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Trial trenching 4;
Building Survey 2.
Attendance
4;
New Monuments on the Historic
Environment Record (HER): 49
with adjacent medieval ridge and
furrow to the east. English Heritage
have indicated that the quality of
survival is sufficient for the section to
be considered for scheduling, pending
the results of the current Heritage
White Paper.
Selected project:
Charnwood Borough Council
Fosse Park & Ride, St John’s, Enderby
& Narborough
Trial trenching was undertaken by the
University of Leicester Archaeological
Services (ULAS) on behalf of the City
and County Councils in advance of the
proposed park and ride site at
Enderby. The trenching followed initial
desk-based assessment and nonintrusive
geophysical
survey
completed in January 2006.
The
trenching identified buried remains of
the Fosse Way Roman road, including
the ‘agger’ or causeway on top of
which the road was constructed. An
adjacent metalled surface and possible
roadside
ditches
may
indicate
something
of
the
construction
methodology, and a rare early 1st
century AD brooch lends supports to
an early construction date for this
major arterial route through the Roman
province. In addition to the Roman
remains, Iron Age (800BC - AD43)
archaeological features indicating the
presence of a small farmstead were
located to the east of the site adjacent
to St John’s road.
A long running dialogue with a local
history group in Narborough has
resulted in discussions with English
Heritage to consider the scheduling of
a section of the Roman Fosse Way on
the southern edge of the Alliance and
Leicester, former Carlton Hayes site,
south-east of the ambulance station
(NGR SP53859789).
The section
appears to survive as an earthwork
marking the line of the Roman road,
Projects commissioned: 23, comprising
Geophysical Survey 1; Trial trenching
10; Attendance 10; Building Survey 2
Projects completed: 30, comprising
Desk based Assessment 9; Trial
trenching 10; Attendance 10; Building
Survey 1.
New Monuments on the HER: 110
Selected projects:
Cotes Road, Barrow-upon-Soar
Area excavation in advance of
residential development by David
Wilson Homes and Miller Homes, to
the east of Cotes Road, revealed an
unparalleled insight into historic lime
extraction and processing at Barrow–
upon-Soar. More than forty individual
kilns, of at least four different types,
were identified and recorded, showing
the technological development of the
industry from the 16th century to the
end of the 19th. The associated quarry
pits were also recorded and indicate
that limestone had been extracted from
much of the development site, c. 12
hectares. Samples were taken from
around 20 of the kilns and analysed
using archaeomagnetic dating to
provide dates for the developmental
sequence. This indicated a start to the
industry in the late medieval period,
commencing the surface ‘clamp’ kilns,
developing through the post-medieval
Heritage Services
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period into a sophisticated multi-kiln
industry.
In addition to the lime industry, the
archaeological excavation has also
given a snap shot of the land use
during the Iron Age, some 2000 years
earlier. A small farmstead appears to
have been located at the crown of the
hill and is probably associated with a
second site identified by geophysical
survey some 250m further to the northwest.
Toward the end of the project an
independent metal-detectorist located
a small cluster of early Anglo-Saxon
brooches (c. 5th/6th century AD) at the
extreme west edge of the Miller Homes
site, suggesting the presence of an
early Anglo-Saxon cemetery site in the
vicinity.
Despite specific targeted
investigation in the vicinity no evidence
of the cemetery could be found within
the development area apart from the
brooch fragments.
Bridge
Street
Loughborough
/
Derby
Road,
Building survey and subsequent trial
trenching recorded a 19th century canal
warehouse, the associated canal basin
and buried evidence of the coal wharf.
The Loughborough Navigation and
wharf were some of the earliest canal
facilities built, dating from the late 18th
century, primarily to bring cheap coal
from the Derbyshire coalfields to
Leicestershire. The canal was soon
extended to Leicester, and linked to
the abortive Charnwood Forest canal.
Rothley Grange, Rothley
east of St Mary’s parish church,
outside the current limits of the existing
cemetery.
Initial fieldwork had
suggested c. 50-100 burials, however
area excavation in the end revealed
293 bodies, buried up to 5 deep, within
a very constrained area at the
southern end of the development site.
It seems probable that the burials
represent an early phase of the nearby
cemetery, although the substantial
number and density of burials require
some further explanation. We have
little close dating, however, given the
current absence of documentary or
map-based evidence, but the clear
indication that the burials are Christian
in tradition, it seems most likely that
the cemetery fits into a period between
c. AD 850-1500. Hopefully, the postexcavation analysis will offer some
answers, as and when completed.
In addition to the burials Roman
remains have also been identified,
suggesting the presence of a
substantial, high status building or
complex in the near vicinity (perhaps
bearing out the reference to a 'Roman
pavement' made on the Ordnance
Survey's map of the area published in
the late 19th century). Within the
excavated area structural evidence is
confined to one or more timber framed
buildings along the western edge of
the development site, a number of pits
and a substantial east-west ditch
perhaps defining the northern edge of
the complex.
Finally, a series of
dumps of diagnostically Roman
building material (brick, tile and slate),
have been located. Pottery and other
artefacts appear to suggest the site
was in use during the later Roman
period (c. AD250-400).
Excavation,
by
Northamptonshire
Archaeology (NA) following a two
stage evaluation of the Rothley Grange
site, have revealed the remains of a
substantial burial ground to the northHeritage Services
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Harborough District Council
inscription in the eastern gable offers a
date of 1693.
Projects commissioned: 30, comprising
Launde Abbey, Launde
Building Assessment 2; Trial trenching
6; Attendance 13; Excavation 2;
Building Survey 5; Other 2
Projects completed: 45, comprising
Desk based Assessment 10; Building
Assessment 3; Geophysical Survey 1;
Trial trenching 7; Attendance 14;
Excavation 2; Building Survey 8.
New Monuments on the HER: 133
Selected Projects:
The latest stages of archaeological
investigation
relating
to
major
development works at Launde Abbey
have been completed by ULAS.
Evaluation of earthworks to the rear of
the stableblock, prior to construction of
new
staff
accommodation,
has
revealed the remains of buildings
known to have occupied this area in
the 19th and 20th centuries; it was
hoped that evidence of earlier service
buildings associated with the postmedieval house and garden or
previous priory would be identified.
Nevill Holt Hall, Nevill Holt
Archaeological
monitoring
during
excavation for the orchestra pit in the
courtyard of the stableblock at Nevill
Holt Hall, recorded evidence of a
substantial
masonry
constructed
building underlying the late 17th
century stables.
Pottery recovered
from a drain was dated to the 17th
century AD. it seems probable that the
structures recorded relate to the
‘almshouse’ recorded on a 17th century
plan of the hall and its grounds.
Test pitting of the partially filled ha-ha
ditch in front of the main house was
also undertaken, apart from revealing
the original ditch profile, substantial
stone wall foundations have been
exposed in two of the trenches, which
add to the current understanding of the
location and arrangement of the west
range of the priory.
Hinckley
Council
&
Bosworth
Borough
Projects commissioned: 20, comprising
Manor Farm, Main Street, Drayton
Limited evaluation by trial trenching
and a building survey at the above site
has located a number of currently
undated linear and pit-like features.
The scatter of unstratified Roman and
Saxon pottery found across the site
may indicate the presence of
settlement within the vicinity and
possibly provide dating for the
features. An ‘L’-shaped farm complex
was recording in advance of alteration
as part of the residential scheme.
Documentary evidence illustrates the
structure on a map of 1810, and an
Building Assessment 1; Geophysical
Survey 1; Trial trenching 3; Attendance
10; Excavation 2; Building Survey 3
Projects completed: 22, comprising
Desk based Assessment 6; Building
Assessment 3; Geophysical Survey 1;
Trial trenching 3; Attendance 6;
Building Survey 3.
New Monuments on the HER: 80
Selected Projects:
Heritage Services
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St Mary’s Court, Barwell
Evaluation by trial trenching and
follow-up targeted excavation revealed
a complex of medieval boundary
ditches defining plots within the
medieval village. An enigmatic, stone
founded circular building produced no
dating evidence but on the basis of
morphology is likely to be of prehistoric
date.
Cadeby Quarry, Cadeby
Archaeological
attendance
during
topsoil and subsoil stripping in
advance of quarrying has revealed a
series of Bronze Age pits and a small
ring ditch enclosing five cremations.
Further monitoring is proposed.
suggests a site of some status. Little
dating evidence was recovered,
although a fragment of ridge tile from
the rubble is of 13th/14th century date.
Melton Borough Council
Projects commissioned: 24, comprising
Building Assessment 2; Trial trenching
6; Attendance 12; Excavation 1;
Building Survey 3
Projects completed: 37, comprising
Desk based Assessment 10; Building
Assessment 4; Trial trenching 4;
Attendance 14; Building Survey 5.
New Monuments on the HER: 121
Selected Projects:
The Old School House, Groby
Leicester Road, Melton Mowbray
This is an early 18th century stone
building, enlarged in 1873 and
thereafter housing a succession of
school mistresses and masters. The
first school in Groby was founded in
1787 and this building may have been
the
schoolhouse
prior
to
the
construction of a purpose built school
in 1842.
Newtown Linford Lane, Groby
Trial trenching at a site for proposed
housing development in Groby was
undertaken by ULAS in January 2007.
The site lies adjacent to the medieval
manor house and scheduled castle
earthworks and revealed evidence for
possible fishponds and the remains of
what seems to be a substantial stone
building, represented by walls and
demolition spreads. One of the walls
had a pronounced curve to it, possibly
representing a stair turret, but perhaps
more likely an agricultural structure
such as a dovecote, in any event the
scale and quality of foundations
Targeted area excavation informed by
earlier
evaluation,
has
been
undertaken in advance of residential
development at the above site.
Previous evidence of Neolithic and
Anglo-Saxon features has been
confirmed and a spread of prehistoric
and Saxon remains revealed.
A
possible
Saxon
structure
and
metalworking debris cutting a deep
prehistoric pit have been recorded.
Brooksby Quarry, Brooksby (Hoby)
Five ‘burnt mounds’, dumps of fire
cracked pebbles, charcoal and other
burnt material, commonly dated to the
Neolithic and Bronze Age, were
located adjacent to a former channel of
the Rearsby Brook, during site
stripping for the processing plant.
Following investigation and recording,
the remains were reburied as there will
be no physical impact from the
overlying plant. The presence of water
logged remains associated with one of
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the mounds also requires maintenance
of the water table.
The quarry’s location in an area of
potential Bytham River deposits (PreAnglian glaciation c. 750,000-500,000
years ago), possibly holding evidence
contemporary
with
the
earliest
recorded
arrival
of
pre-modern
humans, has led to significant interest
in the site resulting in several visits by
leading Palaeolithic specialists.
The Dairy, Scalford
Building survey in advance of
demolition recorded several fine
ironstone buildings of early 19th
century construction.
Documentary
evidence indicates that they were in
use during the mid 19th century as
maltings in the ownership of a Richard
Sharpe. He is known to have added
additional buildings, however, by 1904
the site was used as a dairy and
cheesemakers. The buildings were
due to be demolished in 2006.
Space Foods, Main Street / Nurses
Lane, Wymondham
An evaluation by trenching followed by
a strip and map of an area believed to
be the site of the Old Manor House,
Wymondham was carried out by
Cambridgeshire
County
Council
Archaeological Field Unit during
February and March 2007. The
evaluation and subsequent strip and
map has shown that the foundations of
a substantial stone building survive in
approximately the location shown on a
map of 1652, and that cut features of
medieval date and possibly related to
the manor house survive to the west of
this building. The possible manor
house uncovered during this stage of
work extends for at least 40m by 25m
to the north of the modern factory
building.
There are also clearly many other
features of medieval date likely to be
associated with the manor, these
comprise mainly ditches which may
coincide with the fence lines and gates
shown on the 1652 map, but there are
also post holes indicating the presence
of at least one timber building. The
majority of the evidence is confined to
the western part of the site.
The excavation has revealed several
phases of build and rebuild of the
manor house from an initial timber and
stone built hall house of medieval date,
to the final post-medieval late 17/18th
century
farmhouse
apparently
demolished in the early 19th century.
Accounts of the manor house having
been burnt down, probably in the late
17th or early 18th century, appear to be
bourn out by an area of burning spread
over much of the central and eastern
parts of the manor house. The later
farmhouse occupies the western third
of the earlier site reusing material
robbed from the former manor house.
An open day was held by the
archaeologists and developer and
attracted approximately 150 visitors
from the village and immediately
surrounding areas.
Some areas of the site have clearly
been subject to post-medieval activity,
in particular quarrying for the
underlying stone (observed towards
the Main Street end of the site) and
more recently severe truncation as a
result of the construction of factory
buildings (observed in the southern
and eastern areas of the site).
Further building recording of a
standing ironstone barn is proposed,
the building appears to be indicated on
the 1652 map, although it has been
subsequently much altered and is now
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‘embedded’ within a small factory
complex.
into the contemporary landuse and
ecology.
7, King’s Street, Melton Mowbray
Underlying this phase of activity an
earlier pit alignment and trapezoidal
enclosure indicates perhaps later
Bronze Age subdivision and utilisation
of the landscape. Further field work
was underway in autumn 2007 and
was scheduled to move onto
subsequent sections of the quarry site
as extraction proceeds.
Evaluation undertaken by ULAS
adjacent to no. 5, King Street, a grade
II* listed 14th century timber framed
building, has revealed stone walls,
floor and yard surfaces, a possible lime
kiln and medieval pits.
Further
mitigation in the form of area
excavation is recommended.
Oadby & Wigston Borough Council
North West Leicestershire District
Council
Projects commissioned: 13, comprising
Geophysical Survey 3; Trial trenching
3; Attendance 6; Excavation 1
Projects commissioned: 0
Projects completed: 1 (a Desk based
Assessment ).
New Monuments on the HER: 9
Rutland County Council
Projects completed: 12, comprising
Desk
based
Assessment
4;
Geophysical Survey 1; Trial trenching
3; Attendance 4
New Monuments on the HER: 67
Projects commissioned: N/A
Projects completed: 36, comprising
Desk
based
Assessment
8;
Fieldwalking 1; Geophysical Survey 1;
Trial trenching 5; Attendance 14;
Excavation 1; Building Survey 6
Selected Project:
New Monuments on the HER: 92
North of Warren Farm, Lockington
Quarry, Lockington-Hemington
Excavation in advance of gravel
extraction by Lafarge has revealed an
extensive field system apparently
associated with the nearby scheduled
villa and Iron Age ‘village’. To date
excavation has recorded an area of
closes either side of a trackway with
isolated
structures,
probably
agricultural, set within the field system.
Phosphate analysis of some of the
features is being undertaken with a
view to clarify how the field system
was being used. Analysis of adjacent
palaeochannels will offer further insight
Selected Projects:
Dairy Farm, Lyndon Road, Manton
Evaluation and excavation in advance
of development recorded evidence of
Late Saxon activity including a number
of quarry pits and evidence of a postbuilt structure. Taken together with the
contemporary archaeological remains
located to the north of the present site,
it appears that Manton possesses a
rich
archaeological
heritage
to
complement the historical sources.
Heritage Services
Room 500, County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester, LE3 8TE
(0116) 305 8324 Fax:(0116) 305 7965
Main Street, Market Overton
Although much of the area had been
quarried a strip, plan and record
exercise revealed part of an Iron Age
and Roman settlement including
dumps of flue tile and wall plaster
suggesting a nearby high status
settlement.
A concentration of
Mesolithic flints, some in situ, was
located including pieces that could be
refitted.
Church Lane, Seaton
Evaluation revealed foundations of a
stone building in this former farmyard
development. This has led to further
recording which has revealed a
building with floor levels and a hearth
of probable 18th-early 19th century
date.
Room 500, County Hall, Leicester
Road, Glenfield, Leicester LE3 8TE
Fax (0116) 305 7965
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES
TEAM
KEEPER OF DONINGTON-LE-HEATH
MANOR HOUSE:
Peter Liddle (0116) 305 8326
email: pliddle@leics.gov.uk
ARCHAEOLOGY COLLECTIONS,
LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND
ARCHAEOLOGICAL NETWORK:
Richard Pollard (0116) 305 8324
email: rpollard@leics.gov.uk
FINDS
LIAISON
OFFICER,
PORTABLE ANTIQUITIES SCHEME:
Wendy Scott (0116) 305 8325
email: wscott@leics.gov.uk
POSTSCRIPT
Since this Report was issued,
Northamtonshire Archaeology has
completed the work at Rothley. Just
under 300 medieval burials were
excavated and evidence of what may
be an outer courtyard of a substantial
Roman villa was revealed.
Cambridgeshire
County
Council
Archaeological Field Unit has also
finished their excavation of a manorial
site at Wymondham. The core of the
building was a post built structure with
stone gables.
Later, wings were
added with cellars under. A kitchen
area was also identified.
CONTACTS AT LEICESTERSHIRE
COUNTY COUNCIL, ENVIRONMENT
AND HERITAGE SERVICES
The County Council’s archaeologists
are based at:
ARCHAEOLOGY STAFF IN THE
HISTORIC AND NATURAL
ENVIRONMENT TEAM
SENIOR PLANNING
ARCHAEOLOGIST:
Richard Clark (0116) 305 8322
email: riclark@leics.gov.uk
HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT RECORD
OFFICER
and
ASSISTANT
PLANNING ARCHAEOLOGIST:
Helen Wells (0116) 305 8323
email: hwells@leics.gov.uk
PLANNING ARCHAEOLOGIST:
Lucy Griffin (0016) 305 6217
e-mail lgriffin@leics.gov.uk
HISTORIC
LANDSCAPE
CHARACTERISATION OFFICER:
John Robinson (0116) 305 7035
email: jerobinson@leics.gov.uk
Heritage Services
Room 500, County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester, LE3 8TE
(0116) 305 8324 Fax:(0116) 305 7965
LEICESTERSHIRE
COUNTY
COUNCIL
MUSEUMS
and
RESOURCES CENTRES
BOSWORTH
BATTLEFIELD
HERITAGE CENTRE
Sutton Cheney, near Market Bosworth,
Nuneaton CV13 0AD.
Open Feb-Oct 10.00-5.00. Admission
to Battlefield exhibition and evidence
lab.: Adults £6.00, OAP/Concessions
£4.00, Children (3 years and above)
£3.00, under 3s FREE. Family tickets
available. Entry to Country Park and
Bosworth Trail FREE. Car parking is
£1.50. Tel: (01455) 290 429.
CHARNWOOD MUSEUM
Queen’s Hall, Granby Street,
Loughborough, Leics LE11 3DU
Open Mon-Sat 10.00-4.30; Sun &
Bank Hols: Apr-Oct 2.00-5.00, NovMarch 1.00-4.00. Tel: (01509) 233754.
FREE
COLLECTIONS
RESOURCE
CENTRE
Barrow-upon-Soar, Leicestershire.
Tel: (01509) 815514. Guided visits by
appointment with the Site Manager,
Fred Hartley. Appointments to examine
collections should be made with the
relevant collection curator, but will
normally be between Mon-Thurs
10.00-3.30, and Fri 10.00-3.00.
Contact: Archaeology - Richard Pollard
(0116 305 8324 or 01509 815514); Art
and Costume - Philip Warren (01509
815514); Geology - Susan Cooke
(01509 233737); Home and Family Life
- Fiona Ure (01530 278442); Natural
Life - Tony Fletcher (1509 813934);
Working Life - Fred Hartley (01509
814583).
DONINGTON-LE-HEATH
MANOR
HOUSE
Manor Road, Donington-le-Heath,
Coalville, LE67 2FW. Open daily from
February through to end of November
at least, 11.00-4.00.
831259. FREE
Tel: (01530)
HOLLY HAYES ENVIRONMENT &
HERITAGE RESOURCES CENTRE
and
COMMUNITY
HERITAGE
INITIATIVE
216 Birstall Road, Birstall, Leicester,
LE4 4DG. Tel: (0116) 267 1950 and
267 0000 (Resources Centre) and 267
1377 (CHI) for appointments.
HARBOROUGH MUSEUM
Council Offices, Adam and Eve Street,
Market Harborough, Leics. LE16 7AG.
Open Mon-Sat 10.00-4.30; Sun 2.005.00. Bank Hols vary. Tel: (01858)
821085. FREE
MELTON CARNEGIE MUSEUM
Thorpe End, Melton Mowbray LE13
1RB. Open Daily 10.00-4.30. Tel:
(01664) 569946. FREE
THE
RECORD
OFFICE
FOR
LEICESTERSHIRE, LEICESTER &
RUTLAND
Long Street, Wigston Magna, LE18
2AH. Open Mon, Tues, Thurs 9.155.00; Wed 9.15-7.30; Fri 9.15-4.45; Sat
9.15-12.15; closed on Suns. Tel:
(0116) 257 1080.
SNIBSTON DISCOVERY PARK
Ashby Road, Coalville, LE67 3LN
April-Sept: open daily 10.00-5.00. OctMarch: Mon-Fri 10.00-3.00m; Sat &
Sun 10am - 5pm. Admission Adults
£6.40; Concessions £4.50; Children
£4.30, under 5's free;; half price after
3pm. FREE entry to Fashion Gallery
after 3pm on Weds. Group discounts:
call for details. Tel: (01530) 278444.
THIS NEWSLETTER HAS BEEN
PRODUCED
BY
THE
ARCHAEOLOGICAL
SERVICES
TEAM FOR THE LEICESTERSHIRE
AND RUTLAND ARCHAEOLOGICAL
NETWORK
Heritage Services
Room 500, County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester, LE3 8TE
(0116) 305 8324 Fax:(0116) 305 7965