SOAC BULLETIN

':

South Archological Group SOAG BULLETIN No.45 1989

CONTENTS

In Memoriam - Derek Fallowfield 2

President's Report for 1988-89 2

Summer Excursions 1989 4

CBA9 Annual General Meeting 6

Third Congress of Independent Archaeologists 7

Clothing the Past (Sharpe) 8

Roman Roads (Malpas) 12

The Parishes of (Horswell) 13

The Black Death in ? (Preece) 15

The Lost Shrine of Our Lady Of Caversham (Kift) 16

Tree-ring Dating in South Oxfordshire (Miles) 17 Neal's Wood, Checkendon (Preece) 20

Two Great Houses (Casey) 23

Gatehampton Manor Garden (Graham Kerr) 23

Two Unique Barns at (Maynard) 24

The Magdalenians in Europe - Abstract (Rozoy) 25

And the Walls Came Tumbling Down... (Phillipson) 26

Books 27

Notes and News . 30

SOAG Accounts - Year Ending 28 February 1989 33

Any statements made or opinions expressed in the SOAG BULLETIN are those of the authors alone for which the Group does not accept responsibility. Copyright of articles and illustrations remains with the authors. Cover illustration: Roman pot in black burnished ware and silver bow brooch from the Vineyard site in Abingdon, both lst-2nd century AD (actual size).

Published by the South Oxfordshire Archaeological Group - 1990

ISSN 0953-2242

i IN MEMORIAM - DEREK PRESIDENTS REPORT FOR 1988-89 FALLOWFIELD SOAG has now achieved 20 years of Members of SOAG were shocked to hear of archaeological work in south Oxfordshire the sudden death in June of Derek and is recognised by the Quaternary Fallowfield. Derek's and Marian's Research Centre in Oxford, the Oxford membership numbers, 45 and 46 Archaeological Unit (OAU), Rewley House respectively, beaten only by Cyn's and and other members of the discipline. We Adam's at i and 2, show their long appreciate the time and expertise they so connection with SOAG. Derek was one of willingly offer us. its most knowledgeable non-professional members. He was a regular attender at its Our membership has continued to rise meetings, as well as at conferences, courses gently and we now number 147. Our nine and lectures in the area. His holidays, as overseas members write us long letters and readers of the SOAG Bulletin will know, enjoy receiving the Messenger. So far we always had an archaeological flavour. have members in Holland, France, Needless to' say, anyone who beat Derek at Australia and America. The French are the annual New Year party competition particularly interested in our flint could congratulate themselves on being discoveries, having so many flint sites of pretty good. their own. Derek's interests were not, however, Fieldwork confined to archaeology. He had a great love for the countryside in which SOAG's Gatehampton activities are based. He and Manan enjoyed walking and cycling in it and lunch This, though a continuation of last year's dig or a drink in one of its pubs added a by the river, was a new site along the east finishing touch to a day, particularly if the side of the railway embankment. Tim Allen Kennet Morris Men were dancing there. (OAU) invited us to start work in advance He was also a member of the Chiltern of the Unit and we worked from March to Society and cleared and way-marked mid-September 1988. On 17 August we footpaths for them in the local countryside. made our great discovery: an Upper Palaeolithic site, reports of which were in Nevertheless, he did not turn his back on the local and national papers. It spoke well the town but recognised the importance of of the regard Tim has for SOAG and our the urban environment where most people standard of excavation, that he left us to live. He was a valued member of Reading cope with this important find on our own. Civic Society and Caversham Residents' This is perhaps the most important piece of Association and also of the Cycle work SOAG has carried out. (See SOAG Campaign, because although he Bulletin No. 44 (1988), pp.12-IS). We acknowledged the important râle of the car worked for 46 days on the site a1toether, in modern society, he did not see why with 27 members taking part in the dig over everything should be subject to it. this span of time. Before the Palaeolithic discovery we had some other interesting He delivered, by bicycle of course, the finds: a Roman bar-brooch was found in a notices of all these organisations, over a cobbled area; some nice pieces of pot wide area of Caversham, an unglamourous turned up in various ditches and pits; a but very necessary job. Derek never sought sickle was found in the big ditch - which is the limelight, but got on quietly with one of a pair which may form a cursus whatever needed doing. crossing the site - and bones and flints occurred throughout the trench. All this has He was a civilised and gentle man with a dry greatly benefited the good relationship we sense of humour which delighted his enjoy with the OAU. friends. He loved music and was widely read. He will continue to be much missed, Fieldwalking particularly by Manan, who shared his interests, and his son and daughter, Michael With the dig occupying so much of our time and Valerie. we were only able to carry out nine fieldwalks, some of which were connected Molly Casey with the Gatehampton dig. We also met four times at my house, mostly to sort the results of the fieldwalking. The Celtic head-hunt Visits

This has been revived as a member For our summer outings we visited Avebury reported seeing a Celtic-type head (see and the Vale of the White Horse and SOAG Bulletin no. 43 (1987) p. 20) at Uffington hillfort. A pleasant evening was Ibstone church. A visit was made and it was spent looking at the excellent wall paintings duly recorded. Several other churches have in church. (See SOAG Bulletin been searched but as yet no more heads no. 44 (1988), pp. 4-6 for reports of these have been found. This project has been visits.) Several members went with the submitted for publication but please look Women's' Institute on a visit to Greenwich. out for further examples, particularly in churches. The Party

Meetings Another record was made when 52 members and six visitors attended our These, as usual, covered a broad range of annual New Year party at the Oratory subjects and we found SOAG itself could School on 7 January. The competition (by produce some good speakers. (Do please Vivienne Hodges and consisting of volunteer if you have a pet project on identifying various objects and illustrations hand!) Member Keith Knee-Robinson told from a choice of possibilities) was won by us about his experiences beyond the Jordan Gareth Thomas. We enjoyed a splendid for the April meeting, and the use of feast to which we had all contributed a dendrochronology for dating buildings was plateful. John Percival presided over the explained by David Haddon-Reece in May. bar as usual and the raffle was run by Paul Brewer. Thanks are due to everyone who A record audience awaited Tim Allen from helped, both with the preparations and the OAU to enlarge on the Gatehampton clearing up afterwards. dig in September, and Dr Tony Clark from the University of Surrey, who took samples at the dig, explained the study of soils from Publications archaeological sites at the October meeting. Member Pat Preece gave us some histoiy of The SOAG Bulletin, though out a little later local woodland in November and another than usual because of production problems, member, John Malpas, told us about his is bigger and better than ever - so much so Roman road project in December. The that we found it had to be enlarged to A4 February meeting was a Members' Evening size. We have, in effect, brought it up to with videos - one on geophysics, loaned by date. We were complimented last year on Derek Vaughan and the other on its form and content and this high standard Herculaneum, loaned by Gareth Thomas - has to be maintained. and we finished with a few slides of flints from Bozedown Camp. At the AGM in We are hoping to find some unusual object March we were very grateful to Frank to adapt as a SOAG logo for use on a new Godsell, who stepped in at short notice to cover. It is proving very difficult to find replace Dr David Farmer and who gave us a anything suitable, as it must be something most interesting talk on Thames mills associated with a SOAG project. Ideas and locks. are welcome.

Conferences The Messenger continues its good work, although contributions from members are Twenty members attended the CBA Group still not forthcoming. Our thanks go to 9 Annual Conference, entitled 'Rural Aileen and Ant Booth for continuing to archaeology in the 1990s', which was held at produce it for us. Witney on 23 April 1988. Some members also went to the CBA Group 9 Annual The Lloyds Bank Award General Meeting at Great Kingshill on i October i988, when Dr Nick Barton Our third Lloyds Bank Award, of £65, was congratulated us on our discoveiy of the presented at Burlington House on 23 March Palaeolithic flints at Gatehampton. (See 1988 and four of us attended. We were SOAG Bulletin no. 44 (1988), pp. 7-9.) congratulated by the Secretary on our display of flints from Bozedown. We are expecting to receive another award in 1989. We have acquired several pieces. of Reilly for a follow-up to his talk on equipment this past year. We have computers and archaeology, given at the difficulties over photography and members SOAG evening meeting on 16 May. have generously come forward with two cameras: one from Roger and Sharon We gathered just before 2 pm to be issued Brown and the other on 1on loan from with security tags and were then greeted by Gareth Thomas, complete with an extra Dr Reilly and taken to one of the computer lens. We were also given a profile gauge by rooms, where he demonstrated a range of Bernard Levy. Finally, we have bought a different techniques with applications in new screen to go with our projector at archaeology. He enlarged on many of the meetings, from SOAG funds. topics he had included in his talk, illustrating them with elaborate Subscriptions computer graphics.

Most groups ask at least £5 a year but we One of the main points to emerge. was the have always tried to keep ours to the very way that computers literally enable one to minimum. We are now a large and well- examine a problem from all sides. For established group and need to produce a example, different groups of finds from a decent journal, if not the Occasional Paper. rubbish pit in Medieval Southampton Publishing costs money these days and the (Hamwic) had been plotted in their original SOAG Bulletin for this past year worked out positions within an outline plan of the pit - at nearly £3 a copy - not including all the and then the whole was rotated on the voluntary work by the production team - yet screen so that the position of each could be our subscription is only £2.50. There are seen in relation to the top, bottom and sides also lecturers' fees, room hire charges, of the pit. The position of a cluster of sundry equipment, postage, etc. So hence oyster shells, for instance, could be the need to raise the subscription to £3.50 interpreted as the contents of a single for this coming year. basket-load that had been emptied into the pit. It would have been difficult to attempt The Committee such interpretations from two-dimensional drawings on paper. Thanks are due to our enthusiastic committee, who have a hard evening of it Another common use of computer graphics each month to keep us ticking over. This in archaeology is the construction of 'wire- includes bulletin editor Janet Sharpe and frame' diagrams. These are used to Mike Fulton who produced artwork on his illustrate contour surveys of sites: a laser printer. Thanks are also due to Peter completely level surface would be Shanks who did all the typing. // represented as an even grid but this is distorted to represent the 'humps and I would like to thank the whole committee bumps' on the ground. These vertical for the very real efforts they make; also distances can be exaggerated to bring out librarian Ann Hitchman for her invaluable subtle features and theresults, which at first and hard work keeping our library going at sight look extraordinarily like crumpled meetings; and last but not least our auditor chicken-wire,. can be viewed from any Graham Sharpe who was delighted with the direction. We were shown an example of a businesslike way the treasurer, Malcolm contour survey of an early Christian burial Todd, had presented the accounts. ground on the Isle of Man, where barely- visible surface features were made

Thank you all for your encouraging support. immediately obvious. S Cynthia Graham Kerr One of the most spectacular uses of computer imagery has been the reconstruction of the 'sand people' at Suttoñ Hoo. H,ere the acid soil has completely destroyed all material evidence of burials, SUMMER EXCURSIONS 1989 which remain simply as darker stains in the sand. Careful measurements of these stains Computers at Winchester have been fed into the computer to result in reconstructed outlines of bodies that again About 20 members and friends travelled to can be rotated and viewed from any angle Winchester on Wednesday 21 June to visit to give a three-dimensional effect. the IBM research centre and meet Dr Paul

4 On a more mundane level, the most architecture were the two flavours of the frequent use of computers in archaeology is day. Worlds apart, perhaps, but the former for the storage and display of the vast is showing us how we can pull these two quantities of data which accrue from even worlds closer together to increase our small sites. They are of inestimable use in understanding of the past. keeping records of, say, the potteiy types from Danebuiy Iron Age hillfort. They are Janet Sharpe also now used routinely for storing details of museum collections. Many of us had time to spare in Winchester Broughton Castle before or after the visit to IBM and one of the most popular places to see was, of Lord Saye and Sele, in opening his family course, the Cathedral. Martin Biddle dug at home Broughton Castle which is situated Winchester some years ago and uncovered outside Banbury, aims at informality. the remains of the old minster church, the Certainly on the hot sunny Sunday foundations of which are now outlined on afternoon in July, when our group of around the ground in the shadow of the Cathedral. 20 visited, he succeeded in making us, the The latter needs no description here, except paying public, feel more like invited guests. to mention that its successive stages of He was at the door to welcome us and construction are the subject of a computer explain that written information and guides graphics video prepared by IBM, which Dr were in each room. Later, in the garden, he Reilly showed us on his visit to SOAG and talked enthusiastically of his flowers and which was also used as a demonstration in shrubs and about his new Canadian the 1986-87 'Archaeology in Britain' gardener. He conveyed his pride and his exhibition at the British Museum. The sense of privilege in being the 21st Baron successive buildings are represented by and custodian of the house which has been combinations of simple geometric shapes, in his family since 1377. which are remarkably effective in showing how the Cathedral was gradually altered Broughton is not a castle but a fortified and enlarged with time. manor house, set on an island surrounded by a three-acre moat. The original Some of us visited the new Triforium Medieval house was built in 1300 by Sir Gallery in the south transept of the John de Broughton on the site of an earlier Cathedral. Although only at 'first floor' building. The gatehouse and crenellations level, this gallery is high above the floor of were added in 1406, after the house had the nave and affords some spectacular views passed into the hands of the family of the inside the building. It contains an present owners. It was greatly enlared in interesting collection of sculpture, the mid 16th century when the magmficent woodwork and metalwork spanning il plaster ceilings, splendid panelling and fine centuries - and it lifts one above the fussy fireplaces were added. 14th century Perpendicular style of the nave into the pure Romanesque delight of the In the 17th century William, the 8th Lord original Norman building. Here the Saye and Sele, played a leading part in the triforium itself and the clerestory are lined overthrow of Charles I and the small with double round-headed arches supported council chamber at the top of the house was on simple round columns with completely the meeting place of the plotters. The plain capitals. house was besieged and captured during the Civil War. Between the ground Iloor and the triforium, lying tunnel-like in the transept's outer wall, Little more was done to the property, which is the barrel-vaulted Cathedral library which fell into some disrepair and the contents dates from around i 150. This is well worth sold, until restoration work in the 1870s by a visit, not least for seeing the 12th century the architect George Gilbert Scott. Since illuminated Winchester Bible with colours 1956 there has been a major programme of and gilding as bright as the day they were repair and conservation. applied, and for experiencing the atmosphere of a room that has been in The appeal of the house lies not in its continual use as a library for the best part of contents, although there are a few 1000 years. interesting small pieces, but in the fabric of the building. Much of the early work Computer technology and Norman remains and the feeling of history and continuous occupation gives this place its 2.00 pm. This year the venue was close to distinctive atmosphere. the SOAG area and i i SOAG members were able to attend. Joan Williams The meeting was chaired by Tim Allen of the OAU. His report referred to a national review of the CBA by the British Academy, The Vale and Downiand Museum Centre which is its major funding body. The CBA President, Rosemary Cramp, is believed to The Vale and Downiand Museum Centre at think the future of the CBA lies with its Wantage is a lively place in which to enjoy regional groups, but others think the work an interpretative display of the landscape of of the central body should predominate. the Vale of the White Horse. This shows The results of the review are awaited with the history of man's arrival in the landscape, interest. Other points discussed included with visual displays and artefacts ranging the new-look South Midlands Archaeology from Mesolithic hunter-gatherer to and the new CBA9 Newsheet, which hasn't Medieval wool merchant and 19th century yet completely got off the ground but which farm labourer. Another display shows how it is hoped will enable member societies to the rural industries of milling, mailing, keep in touch and improve communications wool, tanning and smithing were liñked within the group. There were two vacancies around Wantage's central market. for amateur representatives from Oxfordshire, and there was a suggestion On 19 August sixteen of us were entertained from the floor that SOAG should provide at by the curator, Dr Squires, with the story of least one of these as it was 'an active group'. the development of the Museum Centre in Unfortunately the prospect of attending the Old Surgery in Church Street, with four meetings a year at Milton Keynes amusing anecdotes. It was converted from a proved too daunting and no nominations 17th century cloth merchant's house with were forthcoming. The meeting ended at half-timbered wattle and daub interior, a 2.50 for tea. well and a chalk fireplace and chimney stack, behind an 18th century brick façade. The archaeology of Abingdon Its extension to provide display areas and an excellent café behind was carried out by Dr After tea David Miles, Director of the Squires and some volunteers. Almost OAU, gave an excellent illustrated talk on single-handed, he has reconstructed most of the archaeology of Abingdon. Continuous a downiand barn to house agricultural settlement in the area can be traced from equipment. The rest of the barn awaits Neolithic times onward. A causewayed more land. Temporary exhibitions, tourist camp was probably the main focus of information, a meeting room, shop and art Neolithic farming communities around 3000 and craft display gallery are at the Centre BC, and this was the first one to be found in as well. a river valley as opposed to on chalk downiands. Traces of at least two Neolithic After exploring the facilities we were taken long barrows have shown up on aerial to Dr Squires' fascinating old house for photographs, characterised by the two coffee and a glimpse of period furniture, parallel quarry ditches either side of the four-poster beds and other furnishing now-vanished mound. The Drayton Cursus delights, followed by a tour of the is one of the best-investigated in the country conservatory and a scented garden to and was probably associated with mortuary conclude a perfect English summer evening. rituals around 3000 BC. Margaret Westwood The Barrow Hills barrow cemetery at Radley to the northeast of the town has proved to be a very rich area, excavated in advance. of housing development. The COUNCIL FOR BRITISH earliest barrows are Beaker period, dated ARCHAEOLOGY GROUP 9 around 2000 BC, but there are also ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AT Neolithic burials and two Roman ABINGDON cemeteries associated with a nearby villa. The CBA9 Annual General Meeting of The area always seems to have supported a 1989 was held in the Roysse Room, Abbey large population, and by the mid to late Buildings, Abingdon on 23 September at Neolithic the woodland seems to have been

6 more or less cleared. As a result Iron Age this is thought to date from the late Saxon sites are turning up everywhere. One of the period, after the attack by the Danes. best studied was that at the Ashville Wooden supports for a bridge still Trading Estate, a classic Middle Iron Age preserved in the moat have been dated to site where the houses had massive post the early 16th century, and a short-lived holes flanldng the southeast-facing cemetery dating to the 1640s, contemporary entrance, wattle walls and a surrounding with the Civil War, may contain the Victims drainage ditch (or ditch to preveñt animals of the plague brought to Abingdon by the eating the thatch) The Barton Court Farm army. A multiple burial of nine young men site was more successful, showing more has been linked with documentary evidence advanced farming in the late Iron Age. for the burial of nine men from Abingdon New types of cereals had appeared and the Jail in 1644-45 at a cost of four shillings soil was more fertile (more nitrogen rich). and sixpence. There was a series of overlapping farmsteads at this site, starting with After the talk Tim Allen led a conducted Grooved Ware Neolithic, through the Iron tour of the current OAU excavations in Age and Roman periods to an Anglo-Saxon Abingdon, which illustrated many of the settlement, and it may possibly have formed features mentioned by David Miles. the original estate of Abingdon Abbey. Janet Sharpe Roman Abingdon has been largely destroyed by Medieval pits except in the grounds of the abbey. The remains of a THIRD CONGRESS OF INDEPENDENT well-built Roman house, with painted wall ARCHAEOLOGISTS plaster, and three lead coffins, all very recent discoveries, suggest that the The Third Congress of Independent inhabitants were quite wealthy. The Roman Archaeologists was held in York at economy seems to have been based on the College of Ripon and York St John milling, flax and cereal production. from 8-10 September 1989. Andrew Selkirk, the congress organiser and editor of The Anglo-Saxons colonised Abingdon very the magazine Current Archaeology, had early on. Dorchester was the local centre of extended an invitation to SOAG to send Roman rule and there was a customs officer a representative and Adam Graham and Germanic troops stationed there in the Kerr attended. late 4th century. These troops were the earliest Anglo-Saxon settlers and the latest Friday 8 September Roman coinage found in Britain was probably the payment made to these troops. After arriVing at the College in the The earliest sunken huts and long houses afternoon the rest of the day was spent date from around 450 AD and Anglo-Saxon renewing old accjuaintances and making pottery has been found in the boundary new ones, including Philomena and Reg ditches of Roman fields - showing that the Jackson, Rosemary Cramp (the new CBA Roman ditches were still open at the time President), Caroline Raison and others. of settlement. This settlement was non- Apart from SOAG there were about nucleated and covered an area of about two 30 societies present, including the square miles, making it one of the largest British Geological Survey and Swan Anglo-Saxon settlements yet recorded Hellenic Tours. in Britain. In the evening there was a visit to the new Abingdon Abbey was founded in the 7th Archaeological Resource Centre (York century and refounded in the 10th century Archaeological Trust) in St Saviourgate to after being sacked by the Danes. It grew to view an exhibition entitled 'Treasure become one of the largest in Britain. A trapped in light', which save a glimpse of Medieval lay cemetery associated with the the magnificence housed m the museums of abbey has already yielded over 400 burials, Kiev. The items, being too fragile to travel, up to nine deep. Later Medieval burials were illustrated by Russian holograms. have been found on top of the remains of a massive octagonal building, which probably Saturday 9 September surrounded a timber belfry. At 10.00 am the congress settled down to A large moat has been found marking part discuss publications under the chairmanship of the periphery of the abbey grounds and of Derrick Riley, supported by Andrew

7 Selkirk. Leading a lively discussion were but it had also been upgraded to Grade II. James Dyer, Peter Clayton, Alan Sargent and Brian Wrigley. Points raised included After coffee, the question of the draft not only costs but methods of raising money. constitution for the proposed Council for Independent Archaeology was discussed at After coffee the chair was taken by Kevin some length. Many present had not yet Fadden, supported by John Carman as seen it as there had been a bad failure in its leader and Peter Halkon, Mike Curtis, John distribution. Lunch nominally at 1.00 pm Hadman and Andy Boddington. The needs was partaken at 1.30, by which time the of the different regions were ventilated. college staff were becoming restive. The discussion was renewed at 2. 15 pm. Brian Lunch at 1.00 pm was followed by a Higley, a lawyer, took the chair and the fascinating talk on feet (human variety) by constitution, which had been approved by Phyllis Jackson, with drawings showing the the Charity Commissioners, was adopted as differences between the various areas of the printed. Andrew Selkirk was elected Celtic Fringe and the English foot. The chairman and was praised for all his work in Celts had short toes and wide metatarsals running the congress so well. A committee which contrasted strongly with the long toes was elected en bloc and the congress ended and narrow metatarsals of the English. at approximately 2.45. Diana Briscoe followed with Anglo-Saxon attitudes as portrayed in the decoration of The secretary of the congress, Andrea their pottery - for example, in birds Bullock, had put in a vast amount of time and animals. and with boundless energy had made the congress an enjoyable and fruitful occasion. A regional roundup lasted from 2.15 until She informed me that details would be 6.00, with a break for tea at 3.30, and published later. consisted of each society giving a report in turn on their successes and a few failures. Adam Graham Kerr SOAG represented Oxfordshire. All the regions except East Anglia were included. CLOTHING THE PAST After dinner the chief guests gave brief but witty speeches: Peter Wenham in the chair Janet Sharpe introduced Jennifer Page, Chief Executive of English Heritage; Rosemary Cramp, One of the most tantalising aspects of President of the CBA; and Michael archaeology is the incompleteness of the Robbins, President of the Society of archaeological record. Only in rare Antiquaries. circumstances are organic remains preserved, and whereas we may have a Sunday 10 September reasonably adequate idea of stone and metal technology and even economy (from One of the main points arising from the animal bones and carbonised seeds) the real morning discussion session was nature of the people eludes us. What did communication. The point was forcibly put they look like? There is an innate need to by various delegates that professionals and be able to picture people in our mind's eye amateurs must communicate with each if we are to relate to them in any way - and other. Communication needs to be vastly that aspect of a person's appearance which improved between the public, the CBA and (usually) has the main impact is dress. independent archaeologists as in many cases Once we can visualise them we can begin to liaison is, bluntly, bad. The role of the CBA accept them as real, with the same basic should be given wider publicity. Regional needs and emotions as ourselves. Only then groups, museums, universities, technical does archaeology become 'alive' and only colleges and societies should all be then can we begin to really learn from it in concerned with two-way communication in terms of benefiting from the collective past depth with independent archaeologists experience of humankind. The question of redundant churches came So what evidence is there to show us how up; details of them should always be ancient peoples clothed themselves? Not a recorded. Ampthill Archaeological Society lot, it would seem. But the evidence is there gave a good example of this. Through the if we know how to look. Basically this use of photographs, not only had a church evidence falls into three categories: actual been saved from destruction by a developer archaeological remains, surviving textile traditions and experimental work. starting borders suggesting the use of a warp-weighted loom (see below). Prehistoric textiles rarely survive in Britain, and then more often as impressions on Some of the best preserved early fabrics in pottery or in metal corrosion products Europe have come from burials in peat bogs rather than as actual fabrics. Fragments of in Denmark, with examples of both Bronze cloth are sometimes found in bogs in the Age and Iron Age clothing. Some of the north and west, but these are usually veiy Bronze Age apparel was truly remarkable: difficult to date. The earliest known one young woman wore abrief miniskirt of surviving textiles are from one Beaker and separate cords and an enormous round three Early Bronze Age (EBA) burials, all buckle or tutulus at her waist with a forward in Yorkshire. All are woollen plain weave projecting spike. Our modem youth has fabrics; that is, the threads intermesh with quite a way to go to come up with each other as in darning. Some appear to something quite so provocative! Iron Age have been shrouds and the one from ladies were far more 'decently' clothed with Rylston was originally at least five feet long plaid skirts showing the ancestry of the (1.5m) long and three feet (O.9m) wide and Scottish tartans. These Danish bog burials of fine worsted, suggesting considerable and also later water-logged deposits in this competence in its manufacture. The country, such as at Viking York, have also fineness of a weave is expressed by counting given us examples of non-woven fabrics, the number of warp threads (the vertical such as braids, cords and netting. threads attached to the loom) and weft threads (the transverse threads inserted by Loom weights are common finds on many the shuttle) in a square inch (or square sites in Britain. The earliest come from centimetre). The Ryiston cloth was 30 x 26 LBA Deverel-Rimbury sites but most are (or 12 X 10), but impressions of finer fabrics from Iron Age settlements. LBA weavers have been recovered from EBA daggers used small cylindrical clay weights of and axes which had been wrapped in them. uneven weight, which would not have given An EBA axe from Ridgeway, Dorset, an even tension to the warp. In the Iron showed a fabric impression with a count of Age weights were either of stone or clay and 40 x 42 (or 16 x 17), making it the finest of doughnut-shaped or triangular with any British prehistoric fabrics. perforations through the corners. These weights provide evidence for the use of the Fragmentary remains of Late Bronze Age vertical warp-weighted loom, which (LBA) fabrics have been found in cinerary continued in use until the 19th century AD urns, and show that by this time twilled in remote parts of northern Europe and fabrics were being made. A twill weave Iceland. Because of this, and with the help results in a pattern of diagonal lines, of illustrations on ancient Greek pottery, we produced by the weft passing over and have a good knowledge of how these looms under the warps in a regular stepped functioned. pattern (i.e. under two, over two, or under two, over one, etc.) By reversing the A warp-weighted loom consists of two direction of the lines, chevron and diamond sturdy upright posts joined by a horizontal patterns can be produced: one of the oldest pole or 'cloth beam' at the top, and it is and most famous twill patterns is the leant at an angle against the wall of the herringbone twill used in Harris tweed. The house. The uprights can be tree branches appearance of twill patterns in the holding the cloth beam in natural forks. archaeological record implies the use of a The warp threads are suspended from the loom with multiple heddles or shredding cloth beam and divided into two sets of devices to lift the warp threads for the alternate threads. One set is allowed to passage of the shuttle. Plain weave can hang vertically (remember that the uprights (theoretically) be made without the use of a are at a slant) and the other is brought heddle, although it would be difficult and forward over another horizontal pole fixed laborious to produce cloth of any size in this near the bottom of the uprights. The warp way. The use of both plain and twilled threads in each set are then tied in bunches fabrics has continued through the Iron Age to loom weights, which hold them under and into historical times. tension (Fig. 1). This division of the warp forms the first shed or opening for the The very earliest European woven textiles shuttle; to form the second shed, so that the come from the Neolithic 'lake villages' of bottom threads become the top threads and Switzerland. These are plain weaves but vice versa, a heddle is needed. This is a some have in-woven ornamentation and third horizontal pole held about half way

9 up, round which a string is looped to pass to use the warp-weighted loom until round each of the individual threads in the comparatively recently had no knowledge of lower set of the warp. When the heddle is 'weaving combs' and there is no good lifted it brings the lower threads above the evidence for a close association on Iron Age top ones and forms the second or alternate sites between these combs and other shed for the shuttle. The heddle is then weaving equipment. In fact, the closest lowered and the first shed is repeated. The parallel to the 'weaving comb' is the hair cloth grows from the top down, the weft comb still widely used in East Africa. Who being beaten intoplace with a long flat stick is to say the lion Age people did not use or 'sword' which is inserted as the shed is them for their hair as well? changed, and the heddle needs to be moved down as the work progresses. The uprights therefore usually bear a series of holes with two movable pegs, each peg being forked near the top to hold the heddle in the lifted position. Twill weaves require three ri rI separate heddles. Loom weights are often :: ' found in two parallel rows, where they have H' fallen from the warp threads. k

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:4j \± e& 11 .ø, _y &Ì 0

Fig. 2. Iron Age 'weaving combs' from Danebury hilifort.

We may identify other parts of the prehistoric weaver's equipment by studying weaving in other parts of the world, i.e. by making ethnographic parallels. In Peru, for Fig. 1. Simplified diagram of warp- example, weavers use pointed bones to weighted loom showing: (A) upright; (B) select and lift the different threads when cloth beam; (C) heddle; (D) shed rod making a complex pattern, and similar separating the two sets of warp threads; (E) bones are common on Iron Age sites. heddle supports; (F) forks or brackets for holding cloth beam; (H) front warp threads; Further evidence for textile manufacture (I) back warp threads; (K) chained cords comes in the form of spindle whorls. Before spacing the warps; (L) loom weights. the introduction of the spinning wheel, yarns were spun by hand world-wide using a Another piece of equipment that has been weighted stick which is twirled to twist the associated with weaving is the so-called fibres into a thread. The weight is the 'weaving comb' (Fig. 2). These are spindle whorl and these come in all shapes characteristic of Iron Age sites in and sizes; the smaller the whorl, the finer and consist of flat pieces of bone with a row the thread that could be spun. The earliest of teeth cut into one of the narrow ends. spindle whorls from this country are thought The bone is often decorated with dots in to be Neolithic, but they are relatively circles. For a long time it was thought that uncommon until the Iron Age. They may these combs were used to push the weft be of stone, flat and regular in shape with threads up into position on the loom, in a an 'hour-glass' shaped hole, or of clay, when similar way to the forks used by tapestry they were more spherical in shape. weavers today. However, experiments have Sometimes broken potsherds were shown that they do not function very refashioned as spindle whorls; sometimes efficiently for this purpose, not least sawn-off bone femur heads (occasionally because the weft is pushed up rather than human!) were used. Those made of wood down, and a sword would perform this and other organic materials will not function better. Societies which continued have survived. lo Most of the prehistoric textiles found in this weaving process. country are of wool. However, flax seeds are known from the Neolithic period One of the earliest European textile onwards so it is likely that linen fabrics were techniques is probably looped needle also produced. Nettles have been used to netting or 'naalbinding', first found in a late produce a linen-like cloth at least from the Mesolithic (c.4200 BC) context in Denmark. Iron Age until (in Scandinavia) the 19th This fabric is made usine a coarse needle century AD. Until recently country folk had and lengths of yarn, and is formed of rows a wide knowledge of plants that could be of loops linked together in a continuous used as dyes. Many of these dyes have been spiral (Fig. 3). It is not unlike knitting and identified on textiles recovered from Viking as such was used for socks and mittens and York. The Celts used woad to paint the like since it could be shaped fairly themselves and they probably used this easily. Examples are known from the plant dye and many others for their clothing Danish peat bogs and Viking York. This as well, as shown in the Iron Age 'plaids' laborious technique was rendered obsolete recovered from Danish bogs. with the introduction of true knitting, probably from the , in the Not all prehistoric textiles were made on 15th century AD. the warp-weighted loom. A 'hair net' from a Bronze Age bog burial at Borum Esh5j in Denmark was made of sprang, a form of plaiting of stretched warps where the interlacing of the threads at the top results in a mirror image of the work at the bottom, the two halves eventually meeting in the middle where they are held in place by a single horizontal thread: if this is pulled out the whole work will come undone. Sprang can form either an open network or a more dense type of fabric.

Flat tapes or braids were made by a Fig. 3. The structure of naalbinding'. technique known as tablet weaving at least as far back as the early Iron Age. Instead of Numerous other types of fabrics have been a heddle, the warps are threaded through recorded, including tapestry, nets, felts and holes in small thin bone or wooden 'tablets', a variety of plaits and braids. Most of these which were usually square or triangular with types continue to be made in different parts a hole in each corner. Only one thread goes of the world today and a study of surviving in each hole and a bunch of parallel tablets textile traditions can suggest ways in which results, the thickness of which depends on similar fabrics may have been made in the width of the braid. The tablets are prehistoric Britain. One exciting aspect of turned to change the shed. Tablets are this study is the experimental construction well-known in Romano-British deposits, of different looms and attempts to and a complete set, threaded up for use was reproduce ancient textiles. Demonstrations found in the Viking ship burial at Oseberg, of weaving, as at the Butser Ancient Farm Norway. Tablet woven fabrics have a near Petersfield, Hampshire, help to bring characteristic corded appearance as the archaeology alive for many people. groups of warps are twisted round each other, and may have intricate patterns. Textiles do bring archaeology alive. Once They are very strong and were probably we can clothe these ancient peoples in our used as garters, belts, etc. Another use of imagination, and appreciate the skills they tablet woven bands was to form a firm had developed, they become far more real, starting border for fabrics made on the not just for committed archaeologists but warp-weighted loom. The tablet woven also for the general public - whose band would be made with extremely long resources are now becoming so vital for the weft loops along one side: the band would continuation of archaeological research. then be firmly bound to the cloth beam of Next time you read about loom weights in the loom and the weft loops would form the an archaeological report, just picture that warp threads. The new weft would be warp-weighted loom and the weaver clad in beaten up close against the side of the band her bright plaid skirts! which would form a firm edge to the fabric and also space the warps during the

11 Further reading the metalling of its surface. The roads were always well built on a firm foundation with Henshall, A.S., 1950. Textiles and a good camber to let surface water drain weaving appliances in prehistoric away; the metalling was whatever stone was Britain. Proceedings of the Prehistoric available locally. There is a clear piece of Society 16: 130-162. agger to be seen in front of the houses 19-22 Bbc Common (SU728854). Aerial Wild, J.P., 1988. Textiles in archaeology. photographs may reveal what is invisible, or Shire Publications, Princes Risborough nearly so, to the observer on the ground. (Shire Archaeology 56). Time and agriculture have done much to remove the elevation of the agger but it is sometimes preserved by a hedge or a road ROMAN ROADS crossing it. There aregood examples of the latter on the road between John Malpas and Berrick Prior (SU621944) and on Green Lane, (SU592936). An organisation is only as good as its communications and the mighty Roman The line of a Roman road, even when there empire was held together by its splendid is no longer any direct physical evidence for network of roads. After the collapse of the it, may well be preserved by something post- empire the roads were neglected; some Roman. One example is when the line is remained in use, but many gradually slid still in use as a road or even just as a into oblivion. footpath - it is very unlikely that any of the metalling is still Roman! Most of the roads There have always been antiquarians (and, leading to Cirencester and Winchester are later, archaeologists) interested in their impressively Roman in their straightness. immediate surroundings but the first person to bring together most of the available Another example, and a frequent one, is information on our Roman road system was when the line is preserved as a boundary Ivan Margary, whose Roman roads in Britain between fields, estates, parishes or counties. appeared in a one volume edition in 1967. These will always be ancient böundaries, This is a book in the Pevsner mould: fixed when the ager or an accompai»ring Margary drove some 20,000 miles ditch was still visible as a throughout Britain, visiting and going along convenient landmark. practically every stretch of road he described. He was a wealthy man, with time Place names can help. The Saxons gave the at his disposal, and we owe him a great name 'streat' to the metalled Roman roads debt. (Incidentally, it was he who bought they found, so we have such names as the site of the Roman palace at Fishbourne Stratfield Saye, Streatley, etc., all named to save it from the developers.) Margary after the roads they lie on. Stanford is died in 1979; one of his disciples, Richard another good indicator, showing the Bagshawe, has written a useful little book, presence of a Roman paved ford; Stanford Roman roads, in the Shire End was oriinal1y in Stratfield Saye park Archaeology series. where the Silchester-London road crossed the Loddon, and there is Stanford in the Roman road hunting takes two forms: we Vale too. can follow those roads described by Margary and/or shown on Ordnance Survey A Roman ford, or a causeway across a maps, noting their characteristics; or we can damp valley, might well cause a build-up of seek those, mainly minor, roads which the water upstream which was then used in later Margary/Ordnance Survey net has missed. centuries as a millpond; Stanford in the My wife Elisabeth and I have done both. Vale mill is an example, as was the original This is a hobby which takes time and mill at Stanford End, Stratfield Saye. The patience, both in the open air and in metalling of a Roman road was also often working through archives, but it can be used as a convenient firm foundation for very rewarding. later buildings, and here Streatley Farm is a good example, as is Beichers Farm at The physical evidence for the existence of a . Such farms must have been Roman road is often very slight. With luck continuously occupied for many centuries, you can see the causeway or agger along with buildings constantly being replaced - which it runs, possibly with side ditches, or there is a modern barn on the Roman road line at Ascott, on the B480 (SU6 15984). souls". A charter of dated 966 includes a boundary 'up on Watch Above all, there is the typical nature of Hill where the cross stood'. This cross could Roman roads: the characteristic way in well have marked a site where the priest which they maintain a generally straight was wont to meet the local people to preach alignment in a series of straight stretches. and to say Mass. Locally, the central These change direction by just a few minster church appears to have been at the degrees at convenient sighting points, so royal vili of Bensington. The area covered that it is often possiblé to say that a Roman by this minster would therefore most likely road must have taken a certain course have been that of the territory controlled by between known stretches. The Roman the royal vill. We know that the later large surveyor was skilled in picking the best manor of Bensington extended over the route over the terrain: damp valleys are to the river bank just north of crossed at right angles, deep valleys are what was to become the Medieval new town avoided if possible and steep slopes are of Henley, established in the late 11th descended at an angle to reduce century, and the royal domain could well the gradient. have covered a larger area than this (further information on the point would be Anyone wishing to know more about roads welcomed by the author). not too far from the SOAG area could try my 'Roman roads south and east of Between the 10th and 11th centuries it Dorchester-on-Thames' (Oxoniensia vol.52, became fashionable for the lord of the 1987) - there is a copy in the SOAG library - manor, as a matter of prestige, to erect a or my 'A Roman road - East Hanney to 'private' church on his estate, often next Brightwell' (South MidlandsArchaeology vol. door to his own residence. These early 19, 1987). Two other articles due to appear churches would have been built of wood; soon are 'The Roman roads of eastern the Saxons apparently had little experience ' and 'Two Roman roads south of working in stone and in any case there is of Wantage'. no building stone in the Chilterns other than flint, which is difficult to use structurally on its own. Following the arrival of the Normans there was a nation- wide movement of building or rebuilding THE PARISHES OF SOUTh churches in stone, partly to erase all Saxon OXFORDSHIRE: A BRIEF NOTE work and partly from a religious desire to build a grand edifice to the glory of God. K. Martin Horswell Concurrently with the installation of priests In the formative early days of the Church in in the 'private' and other churches came the Anglo-Saxon England large areas were establishment of a system of local areas served by teams of priests working from one covered by each church, which might or centrai church known as a minster (O.E. might not correspond to the boundaries of mynter for monasterium included both a the lord's domain. The eclipse of the 'monastery' as a home for monks and a missionary function of the minsters 'minster church' for priests). A known early followed. Looking at the locations of local example was a network of four or five churches it will be seen that many of them minsters around Southampton Water which adjoin the manor house, which leads to the appears to have been founded in the time of assumption that they could have been in the the West Saxon kings Caedwalla (685-689) first instance 'private' churches established and me (689-726), probabl with the by the lord of the manor. For example, encouragement of Archbishop Theodore of Harpsden church adjoins Harpsden Court; Canterbury (669-690) who is traditionally Bolney church was by Bolney Court; credited with the establishment of such church by Shiplake Court; and a system. Checkendon church by Checkendon Court.

Bede wrote of the minster system, "... if any With the establishment of local churches priest happened to come into a village, the came the question of the collection of tithes villagers immediately gathered together and for the incumbent and it would seem sought from him the word of life. For those natural that in most cases the tithing area priests and clerics went into the villages for should be the same as that controlled by the no other reason than to preach, baptise, local lord. The parish area is therefore visit the sick and, in short, take care of usually seen to have been that of one or

13 more contiguous manors having the same trough was fed by a hand pump and it is lord. The administration of local affairs was understood that the maintenance of this to become intermingled with church affairs, pump had been the responsibility of a situation which continued in some part parish. It is also stated until the establishment of the parish as a that before the coming of piped water to unit of civil government in the 19th century. that parish it was necessary to make use of Today civil parishes usually (but not always) the river in times of severe drought. correspond with church parishes. Harpsden has its frontage to Bolney Court It can therefore be assumed that (excluding and also its access road. Bolney parish was modern revisions) most parish boundaries united with Harpsden in 1453; from Bolney are of ancient origin and it is interesting to Court a track runs up to Mays Green and look at the parishes of south Oxfordshire in the parish river front extended towards the this light. The Chiltern Hills were settled mouth of the Lashbrook where Shiplake relatively late. For the establishment of a parish took over. Shiplake's access track successful village two requirements were runs from Shiplake Court up to Binfield uppermost: a supply of water and a share of heath and Upper Shiplake. Shiplake gave good agricultural land as well as forest and way to Sonning, which extended uphill as far other less fertile areas. The chalk uplands as Checkendon parish, as did the next have few water resources except man-made parish of Caversham. ponds and, more recently, very deep wells (the Maharajah's Well at is over , Whitchurch and Goring are 350 feet (105m) deep). But south all riverside parishes with long river banks. Oxfordshire is bounded by a ioop of the Checkendon had a short frontage and a River Thames which provided a more or narrow neck of land running uphill, not a lot less unlimited source of supply. Many wider than that of Peppard. has the upland parishes therefore evolved as long small parish of North Stoke taken out of it, narrow strips running from the hilltop and , Newnham Murren and settlements to the river bank so as to Gifford are also long and provide water and agricultural land on the narrow. Nuffield has no river frontage, lower slopes as well as the less productive neither has (which was part of areas on the heights. With them went a the Peculiar of Dorchester, as was trackway, often along the parish boundary, Bensington on the river). Most of these giving access from one end of the parish to parishes have a traceable track from the the other. Many of these tracks still exist river to their upland centre and can be traced by reference to the where appropriate. Ordnance Survey map. From place name evidence it appears that A glance at the map published by the most of our villages are of pre-Conquest Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical origin, although not all are ancient parishes. Studies in 1978 shows very clearly the was not made a parish until unusually long and narrow shape of these 1854; , formerly a Liberty parishes. Moving upstream, Bbc has a of the parish of Sonning in Berkshire, was frontage from Fawley Court to the northern another late incorporation. Subject to edge of Henley and a track via Grim's Ditch changes such as these, however, it seems through Lambride Wood to the boundary more than likely that a parish system much of Phyllis Court in Henley. South of the as we know it today had been established in original Henley parish, from Friday Street south Oxfordshire before 1066. Ancient to Mill Lane at Marsh Lock, was boundaries are often delineated by a with Greys Lane (now trackway and often by an old hedge which Greys Road) as access. Mill Lane was the does not conform to the straight lines of beginning of Peppard Lane and that parish hedges marked out on Enclosure maps. had a frontage of a few hundred yards The investigation of parish boundaries for upstream to the mouth of the River Harp. tangible signs such as these would be an Thacker in The Thames highway quotes the interesting exercise. indictment of John Drayton, kmght, in 1403 'because he did not keepe up, at Rotherfield Pyparde, in the water of Thames there, locks and winches for the necessary conduct of vessels from London to Oxon'. At the river end of Mill Lane is a horse trough (now disused). At least up to 1939 this

14 THE BLACK DEATh IN WØODCOTE? Rolls of 1279 (3) who held their land by charter or copyhold but in the rental no Pat Preece mention was made of that. The lands held by Walter that had been held by previous It all started with three sarsens in the hedge tenants had not passed to their wives or of a field called 'Old Lands' in Exiade sons as was customaly. Walter had also Street. It seems probable that these were obtained a reduction in rent. markers of strips in a common field; SOAG members when fieldwalking the adjacent The Black Death had arrived in this country field had found several others. On 18 years before and its effects were felt until examining a rental for 1366 in the Eynsham the end of the century (4). Oxfordshire was cartulary (1), the name 'Oldiand' was found supposed to have suffered severely from it: in Woodcote and by its position in the list it Tilgarsley near , one of the seemed to be situated in the same area. other manors of Eynsham Abbey, was The lessee of the 'parcel of land' was Walter known to have been wiped out (5). Had atte Welle, paying 4d rent a year. It was Woodcote suffered from it too, and could therefore being let as a whole, not in strips, this explain the unusual features of the 1366 and what is more at a low rent with no rental concerning Walter atte Welle? customary duties. Walter was not listed as having a dwelling in Woodcote or nearby, so The rental showed that in South Stoke there why had he got this land? On examining were 48 properties listed of which six had the rental further, it appeared that he may changed hands, including 2) and 3) of the have been either a freeman with a cottage properties held by Walter (see above). In in South Stoke (possibly a skilled worker Woodcote 32 properties were listed and no 'who had accumulated some money') or a less than seven of these were vacant and relative newcomer to the parish. He had: eight had changed ownership. In the Hundred Rolls of 1279 (3) Woodcote had 1) A cottage at a rent of lód copyhold 24 tenants and in 1366 there were 18 and with no customary duties. some of these were holding land in South Stoke as well. The empty properties were 2) A tenement 'atte Barre' (the present as follows: one cottage with cotland, Broad Street farm?) (2) with adjacent land formerly belonging to Pelaw; one tenement and other lands which had been held by and one virgate (approx. 30 acres), formerly John de Chiltenham, who had paid 40s rent held by Akard; one tenement and two although the new rent was 16s. This virgates, formerly held by Radulf le Batour; property was held by charter. one cottage previously occupied by the lord's shepherd; one tenement and one 3) A tenement in South Stoke near the virgate formerly held by le Toter; one churchyard and certain lands and meadows tenement and one virgate formerly held by which had been held by John Waleys, for le Wyte; and land at Wolfeseyesle now in which Walter was paying 4s annually. This the lord's hand (in other words, the owner was also held by charter. had died or given it up and the lord of the manor was farming it). 4) A field called Oldland for 4d annually. So it seems probable that the Black Death had hit Woodcote leaving a number of This was very interesting: he was not giving holdings vacant. Walter atte Welle may any customary duties and this was indicative have been a Medieval 'whizz kid', hoping to of a change of policy of the landlord, so make a profit by gathering as much land as probably the land had only recently been he could and negotiating good leases for acquired and the negotiations were from a himself from the Abbey of Eynsham, who position of strength. It was usual for even were probably only too glad to find a tenant. major tenants, such as 'Magister' Henry de However, he was not the only one. Thomas Wodecote who had a great deal of property, Schort had accumulated: to perform customary duties (probably employing other people to do them). 1) One messuage (a dwelling on a piece Walter also did not have to pay heriot on of land) and one virgate, probably his his death or payment on the marriage of his original home as he had to give customary daughter. The fact that charters and duties, in Woodcote. copyhold were mentioned was also unusual, as there were other free tenants in the 2) One tenement and one virgate rental who had been listed in the Hundred in Woodcote.

15 3) One messuage and one virgate in Oxford to Reading and thence to London. Woodcote for which he paid 14s rent, where Was it some packman staying at the formerly it was 16s 6d, and only had to pay predecessor to the Highwayman who heriot. This was stated to be copyhold but brought the infection to the area? We shall the previous owner was not mentioned. probably never know.

4) One virgate for 13s 4d which was References probably in the Woodcote common fields. (1) Salter, H.E. (ed.). Eynsham Another man who seems to have profited cartulaiy II, Oxfordshire Historical Society, from the disaster was Peter le Smyth, who pp. 118 et seq. probably made a good living by shoeing the packhorses as they passed along the road to (2) Preece, P., Kift, M. and Fallowfield, Wallingford and Oxford. He had M., 1988. On the track of Applehanger. in Woodcote: SOAG Bulletin No. 44 : 17.20.

1) One tenement and half a virgate (3) Record Commissioners, 1818. Rotuli (formerly held by le Keympe) and paid Hundredo,um. 6s 8d rent and some customary duties. (4) Ziegler, P., 1988. The Black Death, 2) One tenement and half a virgate p. 142 (formerly held by atte Hume) for 12s 6d and customary duties. (5) Salter, H.E. (ed.). Eynsham cartula,y XLVII, Oxfordshire Historical Society. 3) One cottage (formerly held by William le Smyth) for 2s 6d and customary (6) Preece, P. A family of Medieval duties; this may have belonged to a relative woodmen. Oxfordshire Local Histo,y Journal who had died. 3(1): 14. As can be seen, he was not so lucky in his negotiations as he had to give customary duties and also pay heriot and other THE LOST SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF customary payments; or perhaps this was CAVERSHAM nearer the time of the plague and the A CLUE TO ITS WHEREABOUTS? Abbey was not so desperate to let its holdings. There were others who had Mary Kift several holdings that had formerly belonged to other families and were also paying That a Medieval Manan shrine existed in reduced rents. Caversham is without doubt. There is plenty of documentary evidence to confirm It would therefore appear that Woodcote this, in particular a letter written by Dr John suffered badly from the plague, losing London to Thomas Cromwell on perhaps 25% of its men. As the properties 17 September 1538 during the Suppression do not seem to have passed to their families of the Monasteries. In it Dr London states, (except possibly in the case of the smith) it I,...! have pulled down the Image of Our seems that they may also have been wiped Lady at Caversham, whereunto was great out. Payables and Corkers were vacant in pilgrimage...". 1366, although Payables was let to Richard Passelewe later (6). There were also two The late H.M. Gillett, an authority on other vacant tenements in the vicinity of Medieval shrines, spent many years Exiade Street. In fact, as far as can be researching into the history of the Shrine of ascertained, it seems possible that Exiade Our Lady of Caversham. In his little suffered most and this implies that their booklet published towards the end of the common fields, including 'Oldfield', would 1950s and entitled 'The restored shrine of have been neglected and let as enclosures. Our Lady of Caversham', he says: "It is now This means that the stones we found would clear that St Mary's Chapel was built long have ceased to be used as markers at about before the bridge [this was first mentioned the middle of the 14th century. in 1231 (M.K.)J and stood near, but apart from,. the church.... Quite likely it was the It seems likely that Woodcote suffered ancient manorial chapel built before St more than South Stoke because of its Peter's, but of that there is no certainty". position on the packhorse route from

16 After Martin Gillett's death two of his Caversham with Reading Abbey, which lies colleagues, C. Haigh and D. Loades, wrote across the Thames and almost opposite. a paper in his memory. He had, just before his death, handed over to them all his written research on the shrine at Caversham and mentioned that he felt his findings TREE-RING DATING IN SOUTH should be "amplified and corrected". This OXFORDSHIRE they did, adding their own new evidence on THE WORK OF THE ENGUSH the subject. The resulting work was HERITAGE ANCIENT MONUMENTS published in Oxoniensia vol.46, pp. 62-72. LABORATORY The site of the shrine after this further Daniel Miles research appears to have been near a fish pond belonging to theManor of Caversham. The Ancient Monuments Laboratory This property had much land and the pond's (AML) is a unique service provided by the whereabouts could not be identified. Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission (English Heritage) to serve the However, on recently reading Sarah archaeological profession with the most up- Markham's book on her ancestor, John to-date techniques in archaeological Loveday, the Caversham antiquary and a science. The Laboratory's Archaeometry friend of Thomas Heathe, I came across a Section, headed by David Haddon-Reece, is short piece from his diaiy which may help in responsible for geophysical surveying and the search for this ancient site. As it is from radiocarbon, archaeomagnetic and the Loveday Papers it is possible that few dendrochronological dating. It is this last had ever read the entry until the publication aspect of the Laboratory's work which has of Mrs Markham's book in 1984. On p. 49 particularly interested Mr Haddon-Reece she writes,"...John [Loveday] recorded sorné and during the past 15 years he has of his [John Watts'] remarks: '... Alderman developed one of the fastest and most Watts said ... that the Chappel of Our Lady advanced computer dating systems in was at Benwell's Caversham Farm'." the country. John Watts was a Mayor of Reading around Tree-ring dating has only been used 1730. If what he told John Loveday was extensively in this country for the east 20 true, then the chapel or shrine stood on the years, the most eminent pioneer being the land belonging to what is now Dean's Farm. late Dr John Fletcher whose interest The Benwell family farmed there during centred on the Vale of the White Horse. most of the 18th century and the farm Dendrochronology is based on the fact that appears to have been the largest on the the annual growth rings of trees reflect Caversham Park estate. This estate was regional climatic conditions and because of originally the Manor of Caversham and it this it is possible to match a sequence of was there in 1219 that the Lord of growth rings from a sample of wood against Caversham, William the Marshall, Regent regional reference chronologies to establish of England for Henry ifi, breathed his last. the date of the last measured ring in calendar years. If the sample has its Dean's Farm runs down to the bank of the sapwood complete, then the date when the Thames and much of its land is low-lying: tree was felled can be determined to the an obvious place for a fish pond. If the year and in many instances the season. As original manor was on the same site as the it was common practice to build timber- present mansion, as some think, or nearby, framed structures with green wood, it then this would make sense. Martin Gillett therefore follows that construction would suggested that perhaps Caversham's original generally commence within a year or so of church before St Peter's was the manorial felling. Oak (Quercus sp.) is best suited to chapel. Again this would fit into the dendrochronology, as well as being the most picture, with the original church of commonly used timber in historic Cavershain in the manorial complex, the structures, although the Laboratory has also lord's fish pond not far away towards the had some success with elm. river, and somewhere close at hand, the shrine. The samples processed by the Laboratory include a large proportion of waterlogged If indeed the shrine was in the Vicinity of timbers. These are dated under contract at Dean's Farm, it is probable that a feny Sheffield University by Jennifer Hillam and crossing linked the Shrine of Our Lady of Cathy Groves who together handle an

17 average of 600 samples annually. Although Newington House (SU609966) : building some waterlogged wood can be successfully commenced 1678, top storey 1777 (2). dried out over a long period of time, the sapwood usually collapses. However, a This interesting house was built by Hemy plank from a Roman well lining has been Dunch and was dated in collaboration with dried under controlled conditions for 18 Dr Fletcher. The seven-bay house as months and has not cracked or distorted at originally built is closely modelled on the all. Most waterlogged wood is either deep- nine-bay Coleshill House, which was frozen or quick-frozen in liquid nitrogen designed by Sir Roger Pratt and built and then planed smooth to allow the ring between 1650-62 (3). It would appear that widths to be measured. Dry samples are Richard Frogley, master carpenter, and polished through eight grades of sandpaper Thomas Wood, master mason, were finishing with 1200 grit; All work relating to involved in the construction of Newington standing buildings and other areas of special in about 1679 (4). research is dealt with at Fortress House. In the course of restoration work by the Some interesting buildings recently dated author at Mapledurham, samples from five include the Tower of London and the buildings have been obtained, dated and Bishop's Palace in Hereford. This last combined into a reference chronology building is the oldest standing building to be which spans the years 1278-1806. There exactly dated by dendrochronology in the still remain two gaps to fill, 1438-1543 and country, the timber having been felled in 1613-18. AD 1179 (1). Present work includes Acton Court in Avon, Stokesay Castle in The Old Manor House, Mapledurham Shropshire and both the Curfew and Round (SU670766) : built between 1440-80 (5). Towers at Windsor Castle. Another project has been the reappraisal of King Arthur's This consists of a hall with crosswing; four Round Table at Winchester Castle. samples have been taken from the latter but However, the project most likely to be of not yet dated. The hail consists of lower interest to readers of this journal has been and upper chambers beneath a roof of arch- the intensive work in Oxfordshire which has braced tie-beam construction with queen- resulted in the creation of an Oxfordshire strutted collars. The ceiling of the lower regional chronology spanning the years 1040 chamber has heavily moulded axial and to 1988, which is soon to be published transverse beams, many of which had in Oxoniensia. decayed and so were removed during restoration work in 1979, up to which time David Haddon-Reece has for some time the lower chamber had retained its beaten held the theory that Oxfordshire could earth floor. Despite their being partially represent a median climatic region for the burned and then buried, it was possible to country as a whole. John Fletcher, after disinter these timbers and match them years of collaboration, entrusted all of his successfully to cores drilled from the reference material to Mr Haddon-Reece standing building. who is at present sorting and collating it. For years, Dr Fletcher's research had been The First or Low Barn, New Farm, greatly undervalued and only recently has Mapledurham (SU679757) : built 1739 (5). the full extent of his work been realised. It is his material combined with work done by This barn, now dismantled, had six bays of the AML in recent years which has made up which the southwestern three were enclosed the Oxfordshire Meañ Curve, a reference while the other three were left open. The showing the changing pattern of tree-rings fully hipped roof had substantial collar and with time against which timber samples may tie-beam trusses with queen struts, princess be matched for dating. This has proved to struts and interrupted collars. Some of the be a very valuable dating tool indeed and wallposts in the open half are of whole tree work is continuing to enhance it and extend trunks on brick bases. it further back in time. The Second or Aisled Barn, New Farm, The following buildings in south Mapledurham (SU679757) : built 1740 (1). Oxfordshire have been dated as part of this programme. This is a fully aisled brick-built barn of six bays with two full hipped porches on the northeast side originally and a matching pair later added to the opposite side. The

18 roof is of collar and tie-beam construction pointed windbraces. The western truss of with curved inner principals clasping the upper end has a king-and-queen strut purlins. There is a dovecote built over the roof and the exterior walls feature heavy eastern porch. curved tension braces.

The Barns, Blagrave Farm, Mapledurham Western House, Warborough (SU597938) (SU695762) : built 1808 (1). building commenced 1574 (1).

Both of the barns are brick-built with roofs An odd house, comprising two gabled wings of collar and tie-beam construction fronting the street and linked by what seems incorporating curved inner principals to be a later central portion. Both wings clasping purlins. The date of 1808 carved were sampled and are contemporary. The on a tie-beam compares well with the felling staircase has been renewed up to first floor dates of 1805 and 1806 derived from level but the attic flight remains intact and samples from the aisle plates and doorposts. is of solid treads. The roof has clasped purlins, queen struts to the principal rafters Rose Farm House, Mapledurham and the collars are interrupted. (SU685766) : building commenced 1613 (1). Upper House Farm House, Nuffield This is a three-bay timber-framed house (SU664865) : trees felled 1624-32 (1). which was uncovered during repairs in 1984. The roof, which survives only over the lower This is a three-celled house with a classic end where it is hipped, has principal rafters lobby-entrance plan. There is an for unused mortices for windbraces to the extraordinary use of storey posts, each cross ridge, clasped purlins and a diagonally-set wall having two and the front having no less ridge piece. than nine. This building contains the narrowest ringed timbers found in The Queen's Head Public House, Oxfordshire to date and is at one of the (SU616892) : building highest sites, being situated on the commenced 1341, floor inserted 1454 (1). Ridgeway. The wall plates are elm and it was possible to cross match one of them An aisled hail house with 'pointed' arch- with oak samples from the rest of the house. braced ties and collars, clasped purlins and a lower tie with knee-braces, this was Henley Bridge, Henley-on-Thames surveyed and samples saved during a course (SU764826) : pile felled after 1735. of major repairs carried out in 1988. The arcade posts of the closed spere truss of the An underwater survey led by Colin Fox of eastern bay have mortices for beams which the remains of the Medieval bridge had could only have been pegged during the first revealed a series of piles. Sections from two phase of construction. However, the were obtained but only one was dated, to existing joists and tenons, which are not what was obviously a later phase. It is bored or pegged, give a date of 1454 which hoped that more samples will is an early date for an inserted floor and be forthcoming. would indicate that the previous timbers in the mortices in question were removed at or The Great Barn, Church Farm, before that time. This bay also contains one (SU715976) : building commenced 1349-50. blade of a base-cruck intermediate truss which is interestingly jointed on the edge The date for this enigmatic building is of rather than the face. some importance as the work must have been planned either before or during the 17-19 The Street, Crowmarsh GitTord Black Death and started immediately (SU614893) : building commenced 1438 (1). afterwards, during a period when many building projects were probably abandoned. This is a peculiar building which almost Another interesting and unusual aspect is defies classification. It consists of six bays, that some of the timbers were felled the western two being narrower and slightly considerably in advance of building. The better finished but apparently contemporary central tie, an impressive timber over with the rest. It contains an upper west end 30 feet (9m) long, was felled in 1338, the with what appears to be an original first lower collar of the pere truss in 1342 and floor, but the roof with its central arch- the rear wall plate in 1350. The building braced open truss is smoke-blackened. The was built and used as a hail for a short roof consists of upper and lower purlins and period then seems to have fallen into

19 disrepair, finally having the western end NEAL'S WOOD, CHECKENDON reconstructed sometime in the 18th centuiy and used as a barn from at least that time. Pat Preece There is some soot-b1ackenin on the roof timbers but they are not heavily encrusted. Up to the dissolution of the monasteries The cusping of the braces and the wide Abbey owned a manor called variety of carpenters' marks make this a Wyfold and the moated remains of the particularly interesting building. manor house are found at Wyfold Grange between Checkendon and Sonning The Bridge, Lay Cemetery Ditch, Abingdon Common. In 1332 Thame Abbey leased (SU498972) : timbers felled shortly after some of this land to a John Neel and Neal's 1507 (provisional date). Farm and woods are named after the Neel family (1). Whether the woods were greater The remains of a timber bridge were found or smaller or even existed then we have no by the Oxford Archaeological Unit which means of knowing; the only clue is that was carrying out a rescue dig prior to some of the indicators of ancient woodland development. Tim Allen, who was are present - bluebells, dogs mercury and supervl$ing the work, cut three samples soft grass were found in the old part which were taken up to Fortress House, (Map 2). where they were quick-frozen in liquid nitrogen and dated the same day. More The first reference to woodland is found in samples will be forthcoming which will an inventoly to a will of Thomas Goswell of allow the date tobe confirmed or corrected. Neal's Farm in 1635 (2) where there is an item: '...in the woods timber cut, roodes, References faggotts, balms [bavins], stackwood, whoopes £7'. This is very interesting as not (1) Haddon-Reece, D., Miles, D.H. and only does it list the products of the woods Munby, J.T., 1989. Vernacular but it also indicates the make-up of the Architecture 20: list 32. woodland. The products suggest that the woods at this period consisted of coppice (2) Haddon-Reece, D., 1987. Vernacular stools of hazel, beech and ash with Architecture 18: list 22. standards of oak. It is possible that there were patches of tall beech and ash (3) Fletcher, Sir Banister, 1975. A histoiy of intermixed with some tall oak, as it seems to architecture (18th edn). pp. 1011, 1013. have been quite common for oak and beech to be cultivated for beams (for buildings) (4) Colvin, H.M., 1954. A biographical and the ash for wheelwrights. The standard dictiona,y of English architects 1660-1840. oaks and the tall beech, ash and oaks could pp.693-94. have provided the timber mentioned in the inventory. The faggots, bavins, rods and (5) Haddon-Reece, D., Miles, D., Tapper, hoops would all have been cut from the M.C. and Fletcher, J.M., 1987. Vernacular coppice stools. The stackwood was Architecture 18: list 22. probably the cut branches of the timber trees or the thicker shoots of beech coppice Architectural terms used in this article are stools. Coppiced beech was often used to described in: Alcock, N.W. et al., 1989, produce stackwood or 'billet' as it was more Recording timber-framed buildings: an commonly known at this time. illustrated glossaiy (CBA Practical Handbooks series). The 'whoopes' or hoops are interesting as this is the only mention found to date of this (The author is an occasional contractor with commodity in the Oxfordshire Chiltems. the Ancient Monuments Laboratory who These were wooden hoops for barrels has collaborated with David Haddon-Reece formed from hazel or willow coppice shoots: on tree-ring dating, particularly on the sites they were peeled and then moulded round in south Oxfordshire contributing to the wooden 'formers' the size of the appropriate Oxfordshire Mean Curve.) barrels. These barrels were known by such names as long and short pipe, kilderkin, etc. and there is an 18th centuiy wood account from Bradfield, Berkshire, where these hoops were being sent to London from Pangbourne by barge.

20 Road to Stop Row

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NEAL'S WOOD, CHECKENDON Map 1: 1841 tithe award map Map 2: 1915 0. S. map (probably uncorrected since 1870) Map 3: Modern woods

2]. A family called Massingberd owned a great trade in London. deal of Checkendon in the 18th century, including Neal's Wood, and among some of The 1841 map shows a system of trackways their papers in the Oxfordshire Record which were used for the withdrawal of Office is a statement that in 1730 the woods coppice wood; these systems are quite contained 130 acres (3). In 1749 a typical of coppices. The wood was divided Mr Blackall rented Neal's Farm and paid a by banks into separate coppices (Map 1) poor rate (4) for the woods in that year. He and it is probable that there were more than paid for loo acres of woodland at the rate of is shown. These were cut in rotation, the 7s to the acre, the woods being assessed at wood products from each area being taken £35 for which he paid at the rate of id per out at intervals ranging between five and £1 per annum, thereby giving 2s lld for the 15 years according to type, so there was woods. There must have been some wood always movement along the trackways. The clearance between 1730 and 1749 to standard trees amongst the coppice would account for the 30 acres less. On the tithe only be felled very occasionally: oak takes award map of 1841 (Map 1) there is a field loo years to mature and beech 70 years. marked 'Stockings', which means a felled area of woodland and this happens 'to be Nowadays the wood has been extended 30 acres in extent. (Map 3) and this area mainly consists of conifers; parts of the old wood have also The Massingberds were employing a been cleared and replanted with conifer. woodward in the 18th century whose name There is a surviving area of hazel and beech was Fletcher Hope. His descendant Miss coppice but the remaining trees are mainly Hope has recently died in Checkendon. He tall beech grown in the 19th century for the left behind an account for all the furniture trade. There are a few sawpits Massingberd woods for 1785 (5) and which were used either by chair leg turners included in this is the poor rate for Neal's or tent peg makers, some of them as late Wood which was £3 7s 6d. This is a great as 1950. increase but about that time there was an agricultural depression and so probably the Neal's Wood is typical of woods in the payment to unemployed workers had Oxfordshire Chilterns in having almost the greatly increased. The products of the same acreage as it did originally, but it is woods suggest that most of them were unlike the others in having lost so much coppices: he was selling 3900 'faggotts', i 100 woodland during the 18th century and then bavins and, instead of stackwood, 104 loads regaining it, albeit in a different place, of 'billett'. There is an entry for forty eight during the 20th. It is to be hoped that when and three-quarter stacks of beech roots and the conifers are felled they will be replaced thirty one and three-quarter stacks of ash with broad-leaved native trees. roots which indicates that part of the woods were being grubbed out and that it Glossary contained both beech and ash, which might have been either coppice or timber. It is Bavin: a faggot by statute 3 ft (0.9m) long by difficult to know where this might have 2 ft (0.6m) in circumference. been, although the cleared area next to the Billet: a log 3 ft 4 ins (1m) long by 1 ft road is a possibility (Map 1). The money (0.3m) in diameter. involved was £12 2s 9d and £9 lOs 6d and it Faggot: a bundle of wood of any size seems likely that a great many roots suitable for firewood. were involved. Stack: a pile of wood 6 ft (1.8m) wide by 3 ft (0.9) deep by 2 ft (0.6m) high. Fletcher Hope was being paid £20 per Stool: the stump base of a coppiced tree. annum. This would have been a retaining Tall trees: trees grown close together to fee and it is probable that he was also acting draw them upwards to form long trunks. for other estates as well, also at a retaining fee, and getting a percentage from the wood References sales. This was common practice from 1 Berkshire Archaeological Journal 32 Medieval times up to the 19th century. 2 Oxfordshire Record Office, Inventory to will of Thomas Goswell. By 1841 the size of the woods had dropped 3 Oxfordshire Record Office, M.M.II 9 to 76 acres (6) and they were described as 4 Berkshire Record Office, D/EB T 13. beechwood, but whether this was coppice or 5 Oxfordshire Record Office, M.M.II 33. tall timber is unknown. It may well have 6 Oxfordshire Record Office, Tithe award been coppice, being grown for the firewood map 1841.

22 TWO GREAT HOUSES almshouses in 1867, which can be seen just off Castle Street. Molly Casey By the 19th century Reading had grown to SOAG visited Broughton Castle just at the include Coley and built in the grounds of time when Coley Park in Reading had COley Park was a house called Castle Hill come into the news. The Property Services House. In the 1880s, the Hon. J.F.T.W. Agency was putting it on the market now Fiennes, who became the seventeenth that the government öffices have moved Baron of Saye and Sete, lived there. The out. The house is in an advanced state of eighteenth Baron also lived for a time at decay so restoration is unlikely, compared Southcote Lodge on the Blagrave estate with the Prospect Park Mansion House which adjoined the Coley estate. Castle which is to become a restaurant and Hill House later became Yeomanry House conference centre. Coley Park's history is when the Berkshire yeomamy occupied it, far more important than that of the and is now the Registration Office for Prospect Park Mansion House but it births, marriages and deaths. In the 19th occupies a far less prominent position, century Broughton Castle had fallen into beine hidden away amongst modern such a state of disrepair that the family no housing. What then has it in common with longer lived there. Broughton Castle? The farm buildings of Coley Park were used The original foundation is about the same as such until comparatively recently. They age. It belonged to the Vachell family, who have been restored for residential use and appeared in Reading's history as early as more housing (tasteful but pricey) has been 1261 when one of them was a juror at the built in the grounds. The dovecote is an Assizes. It was at the start of the 14th outstanding feature and a stone in it bears century that John Vachell bought land fOr the initials TV and the date 1557 as a his house at Coley, then a village outside reminder of the manor's important past. Reading. John Vachell later became However, unlike Broughton, its glories have Member of Parliament for Berkshire. One passed and even its splendid gateway in of his descendants, Thomas, a zealous Castle Hill was demolished in the late 1960s Protestant, appears to have co-operated to make it easier for traffic to whizz enthusiastically with the dissolution of through. A day out at Coley Park is unlikely Reading Abbey. Not surprisingly, when the to be high on anyone's list, but its past Civil War came, the Vachell family, like the played as important a role as Broughton in Fiennes of Broughton, supported the national and local histoiy. Parliamentary cause. The widow of Sir Thomas Vachell, who died in 1638, later married John Hampden. She herself was a daughter of Sir Francis Knollys, later the GATEHAMPTON MANOR GARDEN first Earl of Banbury, who then owned Caversham Manor and whose splendid Cynthia Graham Kerr tomb is in Rotherfield Greys church. Introduction John Hampden was a visitor to Broughton Castle. Those of us with the energy left on The Medieval manor of Gatehampton, a hot day to climb up to the very top floor, Goring, is surrounded by a walled garden saw a small room where he, his host extending towards the Thames. To the William Fiennes, and several other south of this, on the river side, is another prominent Parliamentarians met to garden at present enclosed by an open formulate plans for opposing the King's wooden fence. A trench du along the rule. It does not seem fanciful to suppose fence line, to insert wire netting to keep that Hampden's wife and other members of rabbits out, revealed a mass of rubble the Vachell family were also visitors to consisting of bricks and large flints which Broughton Castle. Coley Manor, unlike may have been the remains of a wall. Broughton, was badly damaged in the Civil War when Reading was under siege. This was investigated by SOAG in the spring of 1989. We are most grateful to Sir Thomas Vachell gave to Reading an Mr Farr, of Gatehampton Manor, and almshouse for 'six aged and impotent men, Mr and Mrs Peachey for giving us without wives'. This building was permission and encouragement. demolished and replaced by the present

23 The garden seems to lie on a small outcrop The finds of chalk which is stained, especially at the east end, with iron. The drift map for this Two large struck flints were found together area shows alluvium with sandy gravel. with a small one (15 mm): they may be from the wall construction. There was one piece The surrounding field showed a number of of beige-coloured Medieval pottery with a bumps and a shallow ditch parallel to the yellowy glaze and a faint streak of greenish fence. An old map showed an island in the glaze. Most of the finds were 18th to 20th area and the bank enclosing a marshy area century and included pot, tiles and brick, by the river may have been an old and half of a horseshoe - and a toy pistol! river bank. Conclusion Excavation Fieldwalking showed that the line of rubble A length of 29.6 m (from the east end of the lay in a straight line towards the river and fence) was measured and the existing trench was well raised above the flood plain. It was enlarged to 0.75 m across. Each end of stopped at the bank near the river. A path the trench subsequently flooded and digging continued north from it across the walled commenced in the central area which garden of the manor and it was visible as a contained the rubble of bricks and flints. 'crop mark' in the grass of the fenced-in This area was later extended southwards to garden. It was therefore concluded that it measure 1.02 by 1.5 m and was trowelled was the remains of a causeway leading down down to the chalk. to the river from the house, with a rubble base. The top of it had been worn away and All the finds were 18th to 20th century, had become overgrown. except for one Medieval sherd (see below). The rubble contained brick, fill and flint The various post holes found probably and a few struck flints, possibly Neolithic marked the positions of old fence posts in but more likely coming from the the water meadow. construction of the flint garden wall. In the recent past there were cucumber frames just to the east, and these would account for the large amount of broken glass and flower pot TWO UNIQUE BARNS AT HARPSDEN that was found. The rubble was surrounded by sandy gravel on each side and included David Maynard occasional bits of charcoal. There are many old and interesting barns in When the flood receded somewhat, 13 m of south Oxfordshire. At Harpsden Court near the trench were trowelled to the west and Henley, opposite the church in Harpsden, found to be all chalk with eight possible are two barns with a difference: their gables post holes; these may represent an altered and ends are embellished with a collection fence line. of large wooden blocks, laid against each other in tile-like fashion (Fig. 1). Each one As time was limited and the weather wet, it is engraved with a particular decorative was decided to dig a few trial holes on the design, some of which lean towards the line of the rubble which appeared to go rural charm of the earlier style of William towards the river bank. These revealed Morris. There is a great variety of designs chalk beneath the turf and deeper soil with a wealth of detail. Some have bits beside the alignment. One trial hole broken off due to weathering but the contained a square stake hole 50 mm across majority remain in reasonable if somewhat and 180 min deep. neglected condition.

It was suspected that the ditch parallel to Little is known about these blocks except the fence may have been a mill leat. that they were bought in London by Lt Col. However, this was probed and no trace of a Leonard Noble, Lord of the Manor of revetment could be found. Harpsden Court, around 1930 and were nailed onto the barns sometime in the past Plans and sections were drawn and the 50 years. Four of the blocks at some point trench backfilled. found their way to Huntswood House, where they hang preserved in the summer house.

24 It is believed that the blocks were made for (Considerin the similarity of these blocks printing wallpaper in repeat designs. The to the William Morris style, it would be majority have no border and some of the interesting to trace their place of origin and patterns fit together. A few years ago one the artist(s) to see if there is indeed a of the blocks was used to print patterns relationship to the Morris school of design. - which were sold at the annual parish fete. Cynthia Graham Kerr) Reference Mee, Arthur (ed.), 1948 Oxfordshire. (The King's England Series.)

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Fig. 1. Drawing of the two barns at Harpsden as seen from the churchyard with (left) a detail of one of the wooden blocks.

ThE MAGDALENL4NS IN EUROPE: in northeast France and the SOAG THEIR DEMOGRAPHY AND REGIONAL President has dug with him on three GROUPING (ABSTR) occasions. We are grateful to Dr Rozoy for presenting SOAG with a copy of his Dr J.G. Rozoy paper. -Ed.) (The Magdalenians were the last The Magdalenian culture became Palaeolithic culture of western Europe and widespread in Europe only during the are represented in Britain at Creswell Crags Blling and Dryas II periods in the final in Derbyshire. They are famous for their phase of the last (Würm) Ice Age, when the cave art and for beautiful engravings on climate became less cold. The sites are bone and ivory. Dr Rozoy has been concentrated in about 16 small areas, with a studying this culture at sites in the Ardennes few isolated sites. The total population has

25 been estimated at 18,000-20,000 persons AND ThE WALLS CAME TUMBLING distributed in 12-15 distinct and unequal DOWN... groups. Seven of these are in France (Pyrénées, Périgord-Quercy (two), Massif Pamela Phillipson Central, Provence-Languedoc, Rhône-Alpes and Pincevent-Ardennes), two or three in Have you ever wondered what places, Spain (Cantabria and the Mediterranean familiar to us by name only, really look coast) and three further east (Schwaebische like? At the end of March 1989, 23 Alb, Thüringen and Bohemia-Moravia). residents of Whitchurch, The Rhineland sites (Gönnersdorf) and the and Pangbourne were to find out, at first sites in the plain situated north of the hand, just how such familiar-sounding Ardennes could be linked with the places as Jerusalem, Capemaum Jericho Thüringen or Schwaebische Alb groups. and Petra look in this day and age. For The Pincevent group, which seems to have most of us it was a first sighting although a visited the Ardennes in summer only, few had been before. For our leader, appears to have been one of the least Richard Hughes, author of Travels in the numerous with an estimated population of Holy Land and Vicar of St Mary's, about 1000, compared with 1500-2500 in Whitchurch and St John's, Whitchurch Hill, other groups. These related regional groups it was one of many such visits made in the are comparable to later Epipalaeolithic past few years. cultures but because of a need for cohesion they used only part of the available territory Of Jericho, there is now little to be seen (some 15,000-30,000 km2), choosing the very save the tell, a huge mound; this represents steep slopes which were richer in game. layer after layer of destroyed and rebuilt cities and continuous habitation dating back to about 8000 B.C. Deep shafts show where archaeologists have been trying to unravel its history, the most famous of these being Kathleen Kenyon who dug at Jericho in the 1950s. Evidence of Herod's exploits punctuated our travels with surprising frequency. Apart from the remains of the platform surrounding the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, we saw the aqueduct and amphitheatre at Caesarea Maritima, climbed the hill at Machareas where John the Baptist was beheaded, and went to the top of Masada in a cable car to view the hanging palaces and the stone and rubble ramp which the Romans built to storm the fortress after Herod's time. Remains dating from the Canaanite period and Solomon have been excavated at Hazor and Dan. At both sites gateways have been identified as belonging to that period, C. 3000 B.C. Byzantine mosaics were much in evidence. A collection in five excavated churches around the area of the ancient city of Nebo Fig. 1. Engraved wolf on schist from Roc- depict hunting and harvesting scenes. At La-Tour I, Ardennes. The plaque is about Madaba, fragments of a once huge 1.5 cm thick; it was smoothed before being pavement still give an idea of its original engraved and was then deliberately broken. splendour, even at the time of its discovery Mobiliary art on stone plaques is relatively during the 19th century, and before it was so frequent at this site. disastrously damaged during the, building of a church intended to protect it. The entire pavement was in the form of a map of Palestine; Jerusalem is still clearly visible.

26 Hishamts Palace, near Jericho, also has of their excellent little books in the Shire some fine 8th century mosaics and here Archaeology Series for review. All were geometric patterns give the impression of first published during 1989, and all are good rich carpeting. We had a local guide during value despite a recent price increase our tour and the newly discovered mosaics to 5.3.50. at Um-er-Rasas were a first sighting for him too. He genuinely joined in our delight at Later prehistoric potteiy in England and the almost perfectly preserved pavement Wales by Sheila M. Elsdon (Shire measuring some 23x15 m: the centre depicts Archaeology 58) covers the period from the scenes of daily life and the border portrays, Late Bronze Age to the ist century AD in skyline image, the various cities of the when Iron Age traditions overlapped with region, all with their 8th century names. Roman pottery. In the early period, pottery Archaeologists are now discovering even throughout England and Wales was fairly earlier mosaics beneath it. uniform in character and in the highland zone these types continued virtually Of course, the Romans left their mark too unchanged until the Roman occupation and and nowhere so impressively as at Jerash, later. In the lowland zone, however, distinct which is considered to have the largest and regional styles appear which in this book best preserved Roman provincial remains are arbitrarily divided into early, middle anywhere. The oval piazza, the long rutted and late groups for convenience cardo (road) with its uneven Corinthian of description. columns, the theatre and triumphal arch are all there to experience. Separate chapters describe pottery from the Late Bronze Age to Early Iron Age (c. At Capernaum, archaeologists have i000-800 BC), Early Iron Age (c. 800-600 discovered that the 4th century white BC), 'middle period' (c.600-300 BC), 'later limestone synagogue was built on top of an middle period' (c. 300-100 BC), 'late period' earlier black basalt wall and a ist century (ist century BC) and 'very late pottery' (c. pavement. An octagonal church was 15-10 BC to the Roman occupation). constructed over a ist century extension to Characteristic pottery types from each Simon Peter!s house, turning the simple period are illustrated, and drawings of home where Jesus had lodged into a place complete pots are often helpfully for religious gatherings. Mortars, olive reconstructed from just one or two sherds, presses and hand grinders, all of ist century which are much more likely to be found in date, are among the artefacts found and the field. Emphasis is given to form and now displayed there. decoration, and a separate chapter describes the decorative motifs used on At Qumran, standing in the ruined later pottery in various parts of the country. monastery and looking out at the caves, it was difficult to realise that so many scrolls The book concludes with a short chapter on had lain here hidden from view for so many methods of manufacture and another on centuries. The first of the famous 'Dead processing pottery and understanding Sea scrolls' was found only about 40 years archaeological reports. In a way this is one ago, and we were able to see the actual of the most useful parts of the book. Many scrolls in the museum. books illustrate complete pots, but for the amateur it is often very difficult to relate Potsherds are liberally scattered on all the these to the scrappy little sherds picked up archaeological sites we visited, but at Petra in the field. It would be nice to see this they are so fine and thin that one cannot final chapter expanded in later editions. help but marvel at the skill of the Nabateans. In fact, the whole tour left us There is a list of museums with good with a feeling of amazement both at the collections of later prehistoric pottery and a excellent state of preservation of the booklist which includes site reports with antiquities and the potential for important sections on pottery. archaeologists in future years. JS

Roman military equipment by M.C. Bishop and J.C. Coulston (Shire Archaeology 59) is intended by the authors to act as an antidote to the Hollywood stereotype of the Shire Publications have sent us three more Roman soldier! This was based ultimately

27 on representations of soldiers on Trajan's of the cross in a variety of forms; they had Column in Rome, and ignored completely not yet become stylised. The very earliest the continuing development of military stones with Christian associations come equipment in the six centuries between the from the 5th to 7th centuries (the 'Age of defeat of Hannibal and the fall of Rome. the Saints') in the Celtic west. Some bear chi-rho monograms. In contrast, the later The subject is approached chronologically, cross-slabs of Scotland and the Isle of Man rather than according to different types of were carefully shaped and carved in great equipment, and the production and supply detail, often in relief, on both sides. The of this equipment is also described. Roman earliest ones (7th century) show Pictish arms and armour (this book does not symbols, but the Christian cross was include pottery, jewellery, standards or adopted from the 8th century onwards. military decorations) can be used to identify Some of the later crosses became very not only particular types of unit but also elaborate and have been compared with different ethnic components within the manuscript versions in the Lindisfarne army. One chapter is devoted to the Gospels and others. Other designs, sources of information about military frequently of horsemen and fantastic equipment and these are considered under animals, are often included on the slabs, three headings: literary and subliterary and some show Biblical stories, Daniel ( letters, accounts, etc.), representational being a favourite subject. The sculptured (tombstones, etc.) and archaeological. crosses of Wales and Cornwall dating from the 5th to 9th centuries form a separate Within each period (Republican, ist group, as do the high crosses of lona and century, 2nd century, 3rd century, and 4th Ireland, where the ring-headed stone cross and 5th centuries AD) the types of weapons, reached its most developed form. Examples armour, personal equipment such as belt are described and illustrated by numerous plates and cloaks, and cavalry and other photographs, and are examined against the equipment are described and profusely background of the spread of Christian illustrated by excellent line drawings by one beliefs and practices. of the authors (MCB). There is even a reconstruction of a 'Boy Scout'-type There is a ga.zetteer of sites to visit, a brief leather tent. list of museums and a bibliography.

The book ends with a very useful glossary of JS terms, and there is the usual list of museums to visit (including some on the Continent) and bibliography. The reviewer, a Dolmens for the dead by Roger ioussaume confirmed pacifist and not as a rule is published by Batsford at £19.95. This is interested in militaria, found the book an English translation by Anne and fascinating. It gives an insight into what was Christopher Chippindale (of Stonehenge a way of life for so many people living in the fame) of a book first published in France Roman Empire and is thoroughly in 1985. recommended. The book's subtitle illustrates its scope: is 'megalith building throughout the world'. However, some 200 pages are devoted to Celtic crosses of Britain and Ireland by Europe and a mere 70 to the rest of the Malcolm Seaborne (Shire Archaeology 57) world. To a large extent this reflects the would form a useful companion volume to wealth of archaeological data from Europe Shire's Anglo-Saxon sculpture, reviewed in and the author's own interests. This heavy last year's Bulletin. The tall free-standing weighting rather implies that non-European cross was a development common to Celtic examples are the 'poor relatives' which is, of and Anglo-Saxon art. Their main purpose course, not true. Neither do they represent seems to have been simply to express faith the same tradition. A better balanced book in Christianity; very few mark burials. The would have been preferable; better still, crosses are described according to type and non-European megaliths merit a book on roughly according to period: it is very their own. difficult to date them precisely. This book provides a comprehensive survey Cross-decorated stones are the earliest. of megalithic constructions in Europe. These are often simple rough uprights or Separate chapters cover northern Europe, natural boulders which may carry a design the British Isles, western France, northern

28 and eastern France and Switzerland, B.K.W. Booth and others (Institute of Field southern France with Catalonia and the Archaeologists Occasional Paper 3, £5.00). Basque country, the Iberian peninsula, and This is a comprehensive survey of the west Mediterranean and south Italy. It institutions, software and applications. provides a wealth of information that is not otherwise freely available. The three Bluffyour way in archaeology by Paul Bahn chapters covering France, in particular, (Ravette Books, £1.95) should be in every describe a lot of recent work which will not archaeologist's pocket. It abounds in be familiar to most British archaeologists. ironical insights and explanations of There are numerous plans and illustrations archaeological mystique and Jargon: 'the art demonstrating the different types of of interpreting archaeological evidence is to 'dolmen' (here taken to mean 'burial leave yourself room for manoeuvre in the chamber') in Europe and elsewhere, and a light of future discovery'; 'another way to great deal of other archaeological sidestep criticism is to make your prose so information (grave goods, crop plants, etc.) obscure that nobody, including yourself is is included in the text. quite sure at the end of it what you have been saying'. Archaeology tends to et a bit The non-European chapters make too big for its boots now and again - this fascinating reading and cover Africa, the little book will soon pull it back down Arabian peninsula and Madagascar, the to size. Near East, the Caucasus, India, China, Korea and Japan, and Colombia in South English Heritage, in association with America. The account of oral history from Batsford Press, has initiated a major new Madagascar, where megalithic tombs were series of books designed to interpret major built until quite recently, gives an insight archaeological and architectural into the significance of megaliths in society. monuments. The first to appear is Avebuiy Despite some amazing similarities, such as by Caroline Malone (E9.95 pbk). Each the occurrence of 'port hole' slabs as far book will describe the site in its historical apart as Cornwall and India, it is admitted and geographical setting, making use of the that they may only be the result of most recent research; they are intended for 'happy coincidence'. a wide general readership and use plenty of clear illustrátions. Look out for The concluding chapter is rather future titles. disappointing as the author makes little attempt to throw megalith building into The Silchester amphitheatre: excavations of perspective. Nevertheless, the book will be 1979-85 by Michael Fulford (Britannia a very useful source of reference, although Monographs 10, £22.00) is the definitive perhaps a little unwieldy for bedtime work on this site. Much of the 3rd century reading. It is good to have so much stonework was found to be preserved and a information brought together, and there is series of timber phases was identified, along an extensive bibliography. with reuse in the Medieval period.

A copy of this book has been vety kindly The economies of Romano-British villas is donated to the SOAG Library by the result of a conference held at Rewley Martin Horswell. House, Oxford and is edited by Keith Branigan and David Miles (Department of SHORT NOTICES Archaeology and Prehistory, University of Sheffield, £14.95). Emphasis is placed on Fieldwork for archaeologists and local the villa. in the landscape, rather than just historians by Anthony Brown (Batsford, on the villa as an isolated entity. This £12.95 pbk) shows the reader how to collection of papers challenges accepted undertake fieldwalking, record and dogma and indicates some promising new interpret earthworks and deal with maps fields of research. and documents. The examples are based on the author's work in the Midlands but are The Roman cooke,y of Apicius has been applicable over a much wider area. translated and adapted for the modern kitchen by John Edwards (Century, £6.95 pbk). It includes 360 recipes which give Anyone fascinated by Paul Reilly's some idea of the richness and variety exposition on computers and archaeology enjoyed by Roman gourmets - achieved with may be interested in Computer usage in entirely natural ingredients, of course! British archaeology (2nd edn) by

29 The earliest English poems is a Penguin based materials of late prehistoric date. Classic edited by Michael Alexander (f3.99) Topics covered at previous meetings include which gives some insight into the minds of the pottery and briquetage found on sites in our Saxon and Viking forebears. It includes the Upper Thames (Oxford) area, and late Widsith (the first poem in English to have Iron Age and early Roman pottery from survived), passages from Beowuif, elegies Silchester. The Group has also considered and riddles. the difficulty of identifying and using data from fleidwalking, and is now planning Reading Abbey by Leslie Cram is an guidelines for the recovery, analysis and attractive 36-page illustrated booklet which publication of later prehistoric ceramics. describes the buildings of the abbey and the For more information please contact Ann life of its community from its foundation in Clark (Secretary), Later Prehistoric 1121 to the Dissolution in 1539. It also Ceramics Research Group, 14 Hihfield forms a good introduction to monastic life Cottages, Top Dartford Road, Wihmngton, in pre-Reformation England generally. It is Kent, DA2 7QB. published by Reading Museum and Art Gallery at £1.50 and copies are available in Hope for Avebury bookshops and libraries. The application for planning permission to The Council for British Archaeology (112 build a hotel/hostel complex on Overton Kennington Road, London SEll 6RE) has Hill, with three 40-foot (12m) conical published two new titles in its CBA 'prehistoric' buildings, has been refused by Practical Handbooks series. Recording the Secretary of State for the Environment timber-framed buildings: an illustrated on the grounds that the proposal would be glossaly by N.W. Alcock and others (E3.50) too discordant and dominant in this ares of has been produced on behalf of the Historic outstanding archaeological importance and Buildings Committee. It attempts to clarify fine landscape. Two further planning and standardise the terminology used to applications in the Avebury area remain describe the components of timber-framed unresolved at the time of writing. The buildings and also provides a means of owner of Avebuiy Manor is appealing identifying and naming timbers, based on a against the decision by Kennet District series of illustrations grouped according to Council to reject his application to develop the type of truss or part of the building. an Elizabethan 'theme park' - he has already Recommended for vernacular architecture been fined £21,000 for pressing ahead with enthusiasts! Recording a church: an this project which was opened to the public illustrated glossaiy by Thomas Cocke and last Easter as 'an Elizabethan Experience'. others (E2.50) is a reprint of the 2nd edition A public enquiry into a projected hotel and (1984) of this useful and well-illustrated leisure centre at West Kennet began in handbook. Both are available from the August. In an attempt to safeguard the CBA, post-free. area, the National Trust has recently purchased 480 acres at West Kennet Farm, which includes the sanctuary site and the southern part of the Kennet Avenue. Heads in the river Much attention has been given over the years to metal finds from the Thames, the most famous being the Celtic Battersea shield. However, large numbers of human skulls have also turned up and a recent survey of museum collections suggests that at least 299 skulls have been taken from the river between Oxford and London, the NOTES AND NEWS greatest concentration being between Richmond and Mortlake. Radiocarbon Later Prehistoric Ceramics Research dating of a random sample suggests the Grou p skulls range in date from Neolithic to Roman. There are more males than This group meets twice a year at different females and the age distribution is biased venues: interests include the identification towards 25-35. Is this a grisly reminder of and analysis of pottery and other ceramic- the head cult that was rife in this country for

30 so long? After all, the Battersea shield was excavations at Radley, the Devil's Quoits a votive object. monument at Stanton Harcourt, and Gravelly Guy. The Late Bronze Age Optical dating farmsteads found at Reading Business Park are within one of the densest areas of Professor Martin Aitken has been settlement known from this period and developing a new form of dating at the waterlogged environmental evidence has Oxford Research Laboratory. Optical also been recovered. Other LBA and Iron dating uses a laser to measure the electrons Age sites have been studied at Wallingford which have accumulated in a sediment since (an island like a 'mini Runnymede'), its last exposure to sunlight. This method Gravelly Guy and Farmoor. In the Late has been shown to work for Palaeolithic Iron Age new farmsteads of a somewhat material and Prof. Aitken thinks it should different form were often established also be possible to date much younger immediately adjacent to their predecessors deposits. He would welcome suitable and continued unaltered well into the samples of wind- or water-deposited Roman period, as at Gravelly Guy, Claydon sediments in layers at least 10 cm thick from Pike and Thornhill Farm. The pressures of sites within 200 miles of Oxford. His mineral extraction have imposed a strong address is 6 Keble Road, Oxford, 0X1 3QJ bias towards work on the river gravels. (tel. 0865 515211). The Oxford Unit - 1989 King Arthur's palace? In addition to long-term projects in Oxford, The largest late Roman villa in Britain was Abingdon and Witney, the OAU is now also discovered in 1988 only five miles from involved in 'extra-mural' work in Littlecote, in Wiltshire. There is evidence Glastonbury, Dover, Northamptonshire and for hue areas of mosaic floors and Gloucestershire. It is also British Rail's occupation lasting well into the 5th centuiy. archaeological consultant on the Channel The Romano-Saxon Wansdyke system of Tunnel link through Kent. Nearer to home, earthworks running along the north edge of their main excavation in the summer of the Wessex downs appears to terminate 1989 was at Abingdon. They are also around this site. The discoveiy was made working with the National Trust and by the Roman Research Trust, formed to English Heritage on a two-year project to study Roman settlement in the Kennet try to assign a firm date to the Uffington Valley. The area seems to be exceptionally White Horse. rich in late Roman remains, the small town of Cunetio (Mildenhall, Wilts.) being Reading Museum closes its doors extended with 18-foot (5.5m) thick defensive walls in the late 4th century, after On 3 September 1989 the Reading Museum Silchester was in decline. Some scholars and Art Gallery in the old Town Hall closed have speculated that Arthur's palace would its doors to the public after 106 years. The be found in Wiltshire - has that palace now staff and collections will be moving into been found? temporary accommodation while the building is completely refurbished as an The Oxford Unit - 1988 Arts and Cultural Centre, due to reopen in 1992. New museum galleries will then The Prehistoric Society's annual General occupy the space previously used by the Research Day in London on 19 November public library (before it moved into new 1988 was given over to the work of the premises in 1985). There will be twice the Oxford Archaeological Unit. Three main amount of floor space for the Museum's papers were read: Neolithic and Bronze collections and new displays will be Age monuments (Richard Bradley), Late mounted, including the large collection of Bronze Age and Iron Age intensification sculptures from Reading Abbey. A new (George Lambrick) and the Late Iron Age- mezzanine floor is to be constructed to Roman transition (David Miles). Far from house the famous copy of the Bayeux simply being less well preserved versions of Tapestry. Meanwhile all the items in the those found in Wessex, early prehistoric collections have been carefully packed and monuments in the Thames Valley are now the move has provided the opportunity to recognised to have distinctive features of check for those items in need of their own and in some cases (such as conservation. While the Museum is closed individual inhumation) to have developed all its records will be transferred to much earlier. Sites discussed included the computer to facilitate information retrieval

31 in the future. There will be no public Celtic jewellery, a 1000-piece jigsaw of the displays until the Museum reopens, except Orpheus mosaic from Littlecote (6.95), for some small temporary displays in sites needlepoint kits and much much more. around Reading, and the enquiry service They sell by mail order (write to Past will be restricted. However, it is hoped to Times, Guildford House, Hayle, Cornwall, have the collections available again for TR27 6FF for a catalogue) and have six research by early 1990. shops - including one at 4 Turl Street, Oxford. Good year for aerial photography Publications received Memories of the excellent crop marks and many new discoveries made during our last SOAG subscribes to the following really hot dry summer in 1976 may prompt publications: Current Archaeology (six times one to ask whether 1989 has done even a year), Oxoniensia and the CBA9's South better. The answer appears to be yes - and Midlands Archaeology (both aimual no. Overall, well over 1000 new sites may publications) and the Newsletter of the have been recorded for the first time this Butser Ancient Farm Project Trust. Any summer. Southwest Wales, Cornwall and member wishing to consult these is East Anglia have been particularly fruitful. requested to contact the Librarian, Aime However, localised but heavy rainfall on Hitchman (tel. Pangbourne 844273). just a few occasions has left the Midlands and large parts of central southern England SOAG BULLETIN No. 46 (1990) with fewer crop marks than usual. Articles are invited for the next issue of the Past Times SOAG Bulletin. Preference will be given to items relevant to south Oxfordshire and This is the name of a company which they should reach the Editor by the end of specialises in selling jewellery and other gift July 1990. Book reviews and news items are items which are either replicas of also welcome. All manuscripts should be archaeological and historical artefacts or typed if possible, please, or (now that we are based on designs from the past. Their are 'computerised') submitted on 5W' or 3½" latest catalogue includes Bronze Age IBM-compatible discs or on Amstrad earrings in sterling silver (27.5O), plenty of PCW discs.

A Magdalenian engraved schist plaque from Roc-la-Tour I, Ardennes, France. Five zigzags are associated with curved lines which might be part of a figurative drawing. (See article on page 25.

...... -

32 SOAG ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 28 FEBRUARY 1989

Bank Reconciliation Statement Receipts & Payments Account for Year ding 28th February 1989 Balancen on 29th February 1988 Balances on 28th Febrxary 1989 Receipts Payments Cirrent Account 233.86 Current Account 268.02 SOAG Funds Deposit Accomt 70.17 Deposit Account 278.94 Cash 0.98 305.01 Cash 3.56 550.52 Subscriptions 313.00 Refund of subscription overpayment 1.00 Excess of D/A Interest 8.77 receipts over payments Sundry Creditor 10.00 Donation SOAG 209.07 (Dr. T. Allen cheque not 1.00 Lloyds Purchases Award 26.44 235.51 presented) Shire Books 110.30 Shire books Party 73.86 tickest 102.00 Party wine 34.12 540.52 540.52 Party raffle tickets 10.00 Party raffle tickeet 0.40 Book token for Oratory School 15.15 Projector screen 33.90 Lectures SOAG May 235.06 SOAG 444.13 10.00 Lloyds Award September 10.00 69.95 Lloyds Award 96.39 October i.2.!22 30.00 Printing of Proannie 14.38 305.01 540.52 Expenses Telephone 28.10 . Postage 27,52 Petrol 3.30 }.liscellaneous jj 60.19 Subs & Affiliations Langtree 45.00 Current Lrchaeo1o' 8.00 M. Todd Oxford Riet. Society 8.00 Ron CBA Group 9 6.00 Theasurer Butser 6.00 7.0O 8 Narch 1989 3)6.00 Excess of receipts over payments 209.07 ,L 'LAC c(Y'i' ct

545.07 545.07

uI__.___. l-4cmAuotrc. qcc IciÏ Lloyds Award Funds

Award for 1988 65.00 Puotoraphy 30.31 Book purchases 8.25 NOTE: Profit on sale of Shire booke £36.44 Profit on Party £62.33 38.56 Exces8 of receipts over payments 26.44

±

(a (a SOUTh OXFORDSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL GROUP GENERAL INFORMATION

Hon. President: Professor P.J. Fowler, MA, PhD, FSA President: Mrs Cynthia Graham Kerr The Thatched Cottage, Whitchurch Hill, Oxon, RG8 7NY Pangbourne (0734) 842901 Joint Secretary: Mrs Margaret Westwood The Malt House, Church Lane, Streatley, Oxon, RG8 9HT Goring (0491) 873001 Joint Secretary: Mrs Joy Whitehead Lower Hitch, Whitchurch, Oxon, RG8 7PB Pangbourne (0734) 843827 Treasurer: Mr Malcolm Todd Clovers End, Rivacres, Whitchurch Hill, Oxon, RG8 7QP Pangbourne (0734) 843526 Bulletin Editor: Mrs Janet Sharpe 59 Reading Road, Pangbourne, Berks, RG8 7HY Pangbourne (0734) 844432 Librarian: Mrs Ann Hitchman 5 Bec Tithe, Whitchurch Hill, Oxon, RG8 7NP Pangbourne (0734) 844273

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Publications: Members receive the SOAG Bulletin annually and the SOAG Messenger every month

Meetings: Held monthly, September to May, on Wednesday evenings at L.angtree School, Woodcote, at 7.45 for 8.00 pm (see membership card for details). Excursions are arranged in the summer

Affiliated to: Council for British Archaeology Group 9 Langtree Adult Education Centre

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