The Excavation of a Medieval Manor House of the Bishops of Winchester at Mount House, Witney, Oxfordshire, 1984-1992

, by Allen, T. G.; Hiller, Jonathan; Allen, Leigh

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ISBN: 9780947816780 | 094781678X
Cover: Paperback
Copyright: 11/1/2002

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A document of the discovery, excavation and preservation of a Norman moated stone manor house found in 1984 at the Mount House, Witney. Excavations revealed a massive and well-preserved tower and attached range fro the 12th century, which was progressively enlarged by a chapel, a central pier, a raised terrace and a garderobe block.

List of Figures

List of Plates

List of Tables

xii

Summaries

xiii

Acknowledgements

Structure of the report

xvi

Introduction

(14)

Tim Allen

Alan Crossley

The Geology and Ancient and Modern Topography of the Area

(3)

The Growth of Human Settlement in the Lower Windrush Valley

(6)

Prehistoric, Romano-British and early to mid-Saxon settlement

(2)

The late Saxon estate and the manor at Witney

(1)

The bishops of Winchester at Witney

(2)

Post-medieval history

(1)

Alan Crossley

Status of the Site Before the 1984 Excavations

(1)

The Excavations, Subsequent History and Eventual Display of the Site

(1)

The planning background

(1)

The rescue of the bishop's manor house

(1)

The subsequent history and eventual display of the site

(1)

The Tourist Board: refurbishment and occupancy

(1)

Objectives of the Excavation and Post-Excavation Research Design

(3)

The Archive

(2)

The Excavations

(154)

Tim Allen

Jonathan Hiller

Introduction

(2)

The structure of the archaeological description

(1)

The methodology of the excavations

(2)

Site Geology

(1)

The Mount Mills Trenches

(1)

1992 Trench 3 -- Period 1: prehistoric and Roman

(1)

1984 Trench III, 1990 Trench 1 and 1992 Trench 4 -- late Saxon and early Norman, c 900--1100

(1)

1990 Trench 4 alongside Farm Mill Lane

(1)

1984 Trench IV, 1990 Trenches 3 and 5

(1)

Mount House: The South-East Area

(96)

General excavation strategy

(2)

The scope of the excavations

(1)

Period 1 -- Roman

(1)

Period 3 -- Early medieval, c 1100--1140. The Solar Tower, East Range and surrounding boundaries

(1)

The Solar Tower -- structural description and construction deposits

(1)

The internal and external stratigraphy of the Solar Tower

(2)

The East Range -- structural description

(1)

Internal stratigraphy of the East Range

(1)

Masonry 350 south of the Solar Tower

(1)

Linear boundary 344 and occupation east of the Solar Tower

(1)

Additions to the buildings -- Period 3b

(1)

Period 4 -- Mid-12th century c 1140--1175

(1)

The construction of the chapel

(1)

The chapel -- description

(3)

Early deposits in the chapel

(2)

The raised terrace south of the chapel

(1)

The courtyard west of the East Range

(1)

Period 4b -- The construction of the garderobe block, the raised east terrace; the central pier in the Solar Tower and the moat

(1)

The central pier within the Solar Tower

(1)

The East Range

(1)

The courtyard west of the East Range

(1)

Construction of the east garderobe block

(2)

Extension of the raised east terrace to wall 77

(1)

The infilling of the chapel basement

(1)

The construction of the south terrace bank

(1)

The construction of the west terrace bank

(1)

Period 4c -- Construction of curtain wall 354

(1)

Period 5a -- c 1175--c 1200

(1)

Construction of possible well 271

(2)

Deposits within the east garderobe block

(1)

The demolition of the east garderobe block

(1)

Dumping east of wall 77 and staircase 110

(1)

Alterations to the Solar Tower and southern curtain wall

(3)

Dumping south and east of the garderobe block

(1)

The construction of the West Block

(7)

The infilling of the base of the West Block Period 5a

(1)

The infilling of the Solar Tower ground floor and the construction of a temporary staircase

(3)

The blocking of the Solar Tower door

(1)

Alterations to the East Range

(1)

Period 5b -- Early 13th century

(1)

The East Range

(1)

The courtyard west of the East Range

(1)

The robbing of curtain wall 354 and southern extension to the terracing

(3)

Period 6 -- 13th century developments, 1225--1300

(1)

The east terrace

(1)

The east terrace and buttress 94

(1)

Alterations to the West Block and the construction of Room 466

(2)

The internal stratigraphy of the East Range

(1)

The development of the courtyard to the west of the East Range

(2)

Period 7 -- 14th century

(1)

The basement of the West Block

(1)

The infilling of the cellar within the West Block

(1)

Room 466 and the courtyard to the north

(2)

Alterations to the East Range

(1)

Period 8 -- Late medieval, c 1400--1600

(1)

The East Range

(1)

External surfaces west of the East Range door

(1)

Use of the courtyard outside the East Range

(1)

The East Terrace in the later medieval period

(1)

Period 9 -- the post-medieval period, c 1600--c 1800

(1)

Structural changes to the West Block and the Solar Tower in Period 9a

(2)

Possible re-flooring of the East Range

(1)

The courtyard

(1)

Period 9c -- the demolition of the manor

(3)

Period 10 -- 19th century and later

(1)

Modern soils and services at the east side of the site

(1)

Structural remains north of the East Range and east of the Mount House

(1)

Mount House: The North-West Area

(1)

General excavation strategy

(1)

The scope of the excavations

(1)

Period 3 -- early medieval c 1100--1140

(1)

Boundary ditch 588 on the north-west

(1)

Period 4b -- c 1160--1180

(1)

Digging the moat

(4)

Pre-building activity in the north-west area

(2)

Construction of curtain wall 530 on the north

(2)

Period 5a -- c 1175--1200

(1)

Construction of the North Range

(4)

The area between the North Range and Gatehouse

(1)

The north-west corner of the manor, west of the North Range

(1)

The courtyard on the north-west

(3)

Period 5b -- early 13th century

(1)

Reflooring of the North Range

(1)

The creation of an east room

(1)

The possible stairwell next to the north gatehouse

(1)

The courtyard south of the North Range

(2)

The bridge abutment at the North Gate

(1)

The North Gatehouse

(1)

Period 6 -- 13th century developments 1225--1300

(2)

Repairs within the North Range and the east room in Periods 6a, the early 13th century

(3)

The courtyard outside the North Range in the early 13th century

101

(1)

The infilling of the north-west garderobe pit and the construction of the West Range

101

(2)

The garderobe in the West Range

103

(2)

Reflooring of the east room of the North Range

105

(1)

Disuse of the North Range in Period 6b, the later 13th century

105

(1)

The addition of a porch or stair to the West Range in the later 13th century

105

(1)

The courtyard on the north-west in the later 13th century

106

(1)

Partial cleaning out of the moat

106

(1)

Period 7 -- 14th century 1300--1400

106

(1)

Demolition of the North Range and the rebuilding of the curtain wall adjacent

106

(2)

The widening of the curtain wall on the north-west

108

(1)

The moat

108

(1)

Disuse of the garderobe north-west of the West Range

108

(1)

A possible structure at the north-west corner of the curtain wall

109

(1)

Deposits overlying the North Range

110

(1)

Reflooring of the room adjacent to the north gate

110

(1)

Construction of a stone staircase to the wall-walk

110

(1)

The courtyard on the north-west

110

(1)

The North Gatehouse

111

(1)

Period 8 -- late medieval and early post-medieval, 1400--1600

111

(1)

The east room next to the north gatehouse

111

(1)

The demolition of the West Range and building of wall 520

111

(1)

Deposits in the north-west of the courtyard

112

(1)

The moat

113

(1)

Period 9 -- 1600--1800

113

(1)

The courtyard in the north-west

113

(1)

The moat

113

(1)

The robbing of the curtain wall and the north gatehouse, and the final infilling of the moat -- Period 9c

114

(1)

Period 10 -- 1800 and later

114

(1)

The north-west area of the site

114

(1)

The north-west corner outside the curtain wall

114

(1)

Mount House: The North-East Area

114

(3)

Period 7 -- 1300--1400

114

(1)

The widened curtain wall in the north-east of the site

114

(1)

Buildings in the north-east of the courtyard

115

(1)

Period 9 -- 1600--1800

115

(1)

The courtyard in the north-east

115

(2)

The Finds

The Medieval and Post-Medieval Pottery

117

(20)

Cathy Keevill

Summary

117

(1)

Methodology

117

(1)

The main fabric and vessel types

117

(5)

Chronological development

122

(7)

Dating and longevity of the fabrics

129

(3)

Site distribution

132

(3)

Regional production and distribution

135

(1)

Conclusion

136

(1)

The Tile

137

(4)

Debbie Duncan

Tim Allen

Introduction

137

(1)

Stone roof-tiles

137

(1)

Ceramic floor-tile

137

(1)

Ceramic roof-tile

137

(4)

The Coins

141

(1)

Nick Mayhew

The Other Small Finds

142

(19)

The copper-alloy objects

142

(1)

Leigh Allen

Personal ornaments

142

(3)

Horse-gear

145

(1)

The spur

145

(1)

Blanche Ellis

Other copper-alloy objects

146

(1)

Iron-work

147

(1)

Leigh Allen

Personal ornaments

147

(1)

Horse-gear

148

(1)

The prick-spur

148

(2)

Blanche Ellis

Armour and weapons

150

(1)

Fragments of body armour

150

(1)

Ian Eaves

The knives

151

(1)

Patrick Ottaway

Tools

152

(2)

Locks and Keys

154

(1)

Building and structural iron-work

155

(1)

Bone and Ivory objects

155

(2)

Arthur MacGregor

The jet

157

(1)

Martin Henig

The glass

157

(1)

Cecily Cropper

Vessel glass

157

(2)

Window glass

159

(1)

The lead objects

160

(1)

The window cames

160

(1)

Cecily Cropper

Other lead objects

161

(1)

The Worked Stone

161

(6)

John Blair

Architectural fragments

161

(5)

Mason's marks on the standing masonry

166

(1)

Comments on the Romanesque stonework

167

(1)

Jeffrey West

The Source of the Stonework

167

(1)

Philip Powell

Mortar Analysis

167

(2)

Graham Morgan

Mortar analysis

167

(1)

Descriptions

167

(1)

Analytical method

168

(1)

Discussion

168

(1)

The Environmental Evidence

169

(14)

The Animal Bones

169

(12)

Kathy Ayres

Dale Serjeantson

Introduction

169

(1)

Taphonomy

169

(1)

Summary of the animal bones from Period 5 -- late 12th and early 13th centuries

169

(1)

Summary of the animal bones from Period 6 -- mid-late 13th century

170

(2)

Summary of the animal bones from Period 7 -- 14th century

172

(2)

Summary of the animal bones from Period 9 -- 17th and 18th centuries

174

(1)

Butchery

175

(1)

Small mammals

175

(1)

Sieved material

176

(1)

Measurements

176

(1)

Bird remains

176

(1)

Fish remains

177

(1)

Spatial analysis

178

(1)

Discussion

178

(3)

Later 12th- and 13th-Century Plant and Invertebrate Remains

181

(2)

Mark Robinson

The moat

181

(1)

The tower garderobe

181

(1)

The north-west garderobe

182

(1)

Survey Information on the Site and the Adjacent Church

183

(18)

Aerial Photographs

183

(1)

Tim Allen

Introduction

183

(1)

Results

183

(1)

Geophysical Survey

183

(8)

Introduction

183

(1)

The ground radar survey

183

(1)

Chris Meats

Mike Tite

Survey Area 1

183

(1)

Survey Area 2

184

(2)

Resistivity and Magnetometer survey

186

(1)

Tim Horsley

Andrew David

Introduction

186

(1)

Aims and Methods

186

(1)

Results

186

(5)

The Norman Church at Witney

191

(2)

John Blair

Documentary Evidence

Introduction

193

(1)

Tim Allen

The Evidence of the Winchester Pipe Rolls, 1208--1398

193

(4)

John Blair

Introduction

193

(1)

The environs and the perimeter walls

193

(2)

The inner curia

195

(1)

The barton

196

(1)

Post-Medieval Evidence for the Buildings

197

(1)

Alan Crossley

The Buck Illustration

198

(3)

The drawing

198

(1)

Alan Crossley

Correspondence with the excavated archaeology

199

(1)

Tim Allen

Conclusion

200

(1)

Alan Crossley

Discussion

201

(26)

Tim Allen

Period 1 -- Roman

201

(1)

Period 2 -- Late Saxon

201

(1)

The Chronology of the 12th Century (Periods 3--5)

201

(5)

Documentary evidence

201

(1)

The Architectural evidence

202

(1)

The numismatic evidence

202

(1)

The ceramic evidence

202

(2)

The alternative chronologies

204

(1)

The later chronology

204

(1)

The earlier chronology

205

(1)

Period 3A: The First Buildings of the 12th-Century Manor

206

(5)

The Solar Tower

206

(2)

The East Range

208

(2)

The boundary ditch and early curtain wall

210

(1)

Period 3B

211

(1)

Period 4A

211

(3)

The chapel (incorporating comments from John Blair)

211

(2)

The raised terrace

213

(1)

Period 4B

214

(4)

The east garderobe block

214

(1)

The infilling of the chapel

215

(1)

The central pier within the Solar Tower

216

(1)

The primary dump against the Solar Tower

216

(1)

The moat

217

(1)

Summary of the developments

218

(1)

Period 4C: Construction of the Curtain Wall

218

(1)

The north gatehouse

219

(1)

Source of the building stone

219

(1)

Period 5A

219

(3)

Alterations to the Solar Tower

219

(1)

The West Block

220

(1)

Water Supply

221

(1)

Periods 5 and 6

222

(3)

The North Range

222

(2)

The barton in the 12th and early 13th centuries

224

(1)

The extension of the south and east terraces

224

(1)

Periods 7 and 8

225

(1)

The rebuilding of the northern curtain wall

225

(1)

The East Range in the later medieval period

225

(1)

The other buildings of the manor

225

(1)

Period 9

226

(1)

The demolition of the manor

226

(1)

The Manor in Context

227

(9)

Tim Allen

John Blair

Introduction

227

(1)

The Siting of the Manor

227

(1)

The Building of the Stone House

227

(2)

The Solar Tower

228

(1)

John Blair

The hall

228

(1)

The Layout of the 12th-Century Manor

229

(1)

John Blair

Witney in the Anarchy

230

(1)

The Later 12th Century

231

(1)

Documentary Background

231

(1)

The Embanking in and Around the Solar Tower

232

(1)

The Foundation of the Planned Town of Witney

232

(2)

Contacts and Status

234

(2)

Primary Sources Consulted

236

(1)

Bibliography

237

(8)

Index

245

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The Excavation of a Medieval Manor House of the Bishops of Winchester at Mount House, Witney, Oxfordshire, 1984-1992

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials