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

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

• ISBN13: 9780947816780
• ISBN10: 094781678X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-11-01
• Publisher: David Brown Book Co

Summary

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

Table of Contents

List of Figures	ix
List of Plates	xi
List of Tables	xii
Summaries	xiii
Acknowledgements	xv
Structure of the report	xvi
Introduction	1	(14)
Tim Allen
Alan Crossley
The Geology and Ancient and Modern Topography of the Area	1	(3)
The Growth of Human Settlement in the Lower Windrush Valley	4	(6)
Prehistoric, Romano-British and early to mid-Saxon settlement	4	(2)
The late Saxon estate and the manor at Witney	6	(1)
The bishops of Winchester at Witney	7	(2)
Post-medieval history	9	(1)
Alan Crossley
Status of the Site Before the 1984 Excavations	10	(1)
The Excavations, Subsequent History and Eventual Display of the Site	11	(1)
The planning background	11	(1)
The rescue of the bishop's manor house	11	(1)
The subsequent history and eventual display of the site	11	(1)
The Tourist Board: refurbishment and occupancy	12	(1)
Objectives of the Excavation and Post-Excavation Research Design	12	(3)
The Archive	13	(2)
The Excavations	15	(154)
Tim Allen
Jonathan Hiller
Introduction	15	(2)
The structure of the archaeological description	15	(1)
The methodology of the excavations	15	(2)
Site Geology	17	(1)
The Mount Mills Trenches	17	(1)
1992 Trench 3 -- Period 1: prehistoric and Roman	17	(1)
1984 Trench III, 1990 Trench 1 and 1992 Trench 4 -- late Saxon and early Norman, c 900--1100	17	(1)
1990 Trench 4 alongside Farm Mill Lane	18	(1)
1984 Trench IV, 1990 Trenches 3 and 5	18	(1)
Mount House: The South-East Area	18	(96)
General excavation strategy	18	(2)
The scope of the excavations	20	(1)
Period 1 -- Roman	20	(1)
Period 3 -- Early medieval, c 1100--1140. The Solar Tower, East Range and surrounding boundaries	21	(1)
The Solar Tower -- structural description and construction deposits	21	(1)
The internal and external stratigraphy of the Solar Tower	22	(2)
The East Range -- structural description	24	(1)
Internal stratigraphy of the East Range	25	(1)
Masonry 350 south of the Solar Tower	25	(1)
Linear boundary 344 and occupation east of the Solar Tower	25	(1)
Additions to the buildings -- Period 3b	26	(1)
Period 4 -- Mid-12th century c 1140--1175	27	(1)
The construction of the chapel	27	(1)
The chapel -- description	27	(3)
Early deposits in the chapel	30	(2)
The raised terrace south of the chapel	32	(1)
The courtyard west of the East Range	33	(1)
Period 4b -- The construction of the garderobe block, the raised east terrace; the central pier in the Solar Tower and the moat	34	(1)
The central pier within the Solar Tower	34	(1)
The East Range	35	(1)
The courtyard west of the East Range	35	(1)
Construction of the east garderobe block	35	(2)
Extension of the raised east terrace to wall 77	37	(1)
The infilling of the chapel basement	38	(1)
The construction of the south terrace bank	39	(1)
The construction of the west terrace bank	40	(1)
Period 4c -- Construction of curtain wall 354	40	(1)
Period 5a -- c 1175--c 1200	41	(1)
Construction of possible well 271	41	(2)
Deposits within the east garderobe block	43	(1)
The demolition of the east garderobe block	43	(1)
Dumping east of wall 77 and staircase 110	44	(1)
Alterations to the Solar Tower and southern curtain wall	44	(3)
Dumping south and east of the garderobe block	47	(1)
The construction of the West Block	47	(7)
The infilling of the base of the West Block Period 5a	54	(1)
The infilling of the Solar Tower ground floor and the construction of a temporary staircase	54	(3)
The blocking of the Solar Tower door	57	(1)
Alterations to the East Range	57	(1)
Period 5b -- Early 13th century	58	(1)
The East Range	58	(1)
The courtyard west of the East Range	59	(1)
The robbing of curtain wall 354 and southern extension to the terracing	59	(3)
Period 6 -- 13th century developments, 1225--1300	62	(1)
The east terrace	62	(1)
The east terrace and buttress 94	62	(1)
Alterations to the West Block and the construction of Room 466	62	(2)
The internal stratigraphy of the East Range	64	(1)
The development of the courtyard to the west of the East Range	65	(2)
Period 7 -- 14th century	67	(1)
The basement of the West Block	67	(1)
The infilling of the cellar within the West Block	67	(1)
Room 466 and the courtyard to the north	67	(2)
Alterations to the East Range	69	(1)
Period 8 -- Late medieval, c 1400--1600	70	(1)
The East Range	70	(1)
External surfaces west of the East Range door	71	(1)
Use of the courtyard outside the East Range	71	(1)
The East Terrace in the later medieval period	71	(1)
Period 9 -- the post-medieval period, c 1600--c 1800	72	(1)
Structural changes to the West Block and the Solar Tower in Period 9a	72	(2)
Possible re-flooring of the East Range	74	(1)
The courtyard	74	(1)
Period 9c -- the demolition of the manor	74	(3)
Period 10 -- 19th century and later	77	(1)
Modern soils and services at the east side of the site	77	(1)
Structural remains north of the East Range and east of the Mount House	77	(1)
Mount House: The North-West Area	77	(1)
General excavation strategy	77	(1)
The scope of the excavations	78	(1)
Period 3 -- early medieval c 1100--1140	78	(1)
Boundary ditch 588 on the north-west	78	(1)
Period 4b -- c 1160--1180	78	(1)
Digging the moat	78	(4)
Pre-building activity in the north-west area	82	(2)
Construction of curtain wall 530 on the north	84	(2)
Period 5a -- c 1175--1200	86	(1)
Construction of the North Range	86	(4)
The area between the North Range and Gatehouse	90	(1)
The north-west corner of the manor, west of the North Range	91	(1)
The courtyard on the north-west	91	(3)
Period 5b -- early 13th century	94	(1)
Reflooring of the North Range	94	(1)
The creation of an east room	94	(1)
The possible stairwell next to the north gatehouse	94	(1)
The courtyard south of the North Range	94	(2)
The bridge abutment at the North Gate	96	(1)
The North Gatehouse	96	(1)
Period 6 -- 13th century developments 1225--1300	96	(2)
Repairs within the North Range and the east room in Periods 6a, the early 13th century	98	(3)
The courtyard outside the North Range in the early 13th century	101	(1)
The infilling of the north-west garderobe pit and the construction of the West Range	101	(2)
The garderobe in the West Range	103	(2)
Reflooring of the east room of the North Range	105	(1)
Disuse of the North Range in Period 6b, the later 13th century	105	(1)
The addition of a porch or stair to the West Range in the later 13th century	105	(1)
The courtyard on the north-west in the later 13th century	106	(1)
Partial cleaning out of the moat	106	(1)
Period 7 -- 14th century 1300--1400	106	(1)
Demolition of the North Range and the rebuilding of the curtain wall adjacent	106	(2)
The widening of the curtain wall on the north-west	108	(1)
The moat	108	(1)
Disuse of the garderobe north-west of the West Range	108	(1)
A possible structure at the north-west corner of the curtain wall	109	(1)
Deposits overlying the North Range	110	(1)
Reflooring of the room adjacent to the north gate	110	(1)
Construction of a stone staircase to the wall-walk	110	(1)
The courtyard on the north-west	110	(1)
The North Gatehouse	111	(1)
Period 8 -- late medieval and early post-medieval, 1400--1600	111	(1)
The east room next to the north gatehouse	111	(1)
The demolition of the West Range and building of wall 520	111	(1)
Deposits in the north-west of the courtyard	112	(1)
The moat	113	(1)
Period 9 -- 1600--1800	113	(1)
The courtyard in the north-west	113	(1)
The moat	113	(1)
The robbing of the curtain wall and the north gatehouse, and the final infilling of the moat -- Period 9c	114	(1)
Period 10 -- 1800 and later	114	(1)
The north-west area of the site	114	(1)
The north-west corner outside the curtain wall	114	(1)
Mount House: The North-East Area	114	(3)
Period 7 -- 1300--1400	114	(1)
The widened curtain wall in the north-east of the site	114	(1)
Buildings in the north-east of the courtyard	115	(1)
Period 9 -- 1600--1800	115	(1)
The courtyard in the north-east	115	(2)
The Finds
The Medieval and Post-Medieval Pottery	117	(20)
Cathy Keevill
Summary	117	(1)
Methodology	117	(1)
The main fabric and vessel types	117	(5)
Chronological development	122	(7)
Dating and longevity of the fabrics	129	(3)
Site distribution	132	(3)
Regional production and distribution	135	(1)
Conclusion	136	(1)
The Tile	137	(4)
Debbie Duncan
Tim Allen
Introduction	137	(1)
Stone roof-tiles	137	(1)
Ceramic floor-tile	137	(1)
Ceramic roof-tile	137	(4)
The Coins	141	(1)
Nick Mayhew
The Other Small Finds	142	(19)
The copper-alloy objects	142	(1)
Leigh Allen
Personal ornaments	142	(3)
Horse-gear	145	(1)
The spur	145	(1)
Blanche Ellis
Other copper-alloy objects	146	(1)
Iron-work	147	(1)
Leigh Allen
Personal ornaments	147	(1)
Horse-gear	148	(1)
The prick-spur	148	(2)
Blanche Ellis
Armour and weapons	150	(1)
Fragments of body armour	150	(1)
Ian Eaves
The knives	151	(1)
Patrick Ottaway
Tools	152	(2)
Locks and Keys	154	(1)
Building and structural iron-work	155	(1)
Bone and Ivory objects	155	(2)
Arthur MacGregor
The jet	157	(1)
Martin Henig
The glass	157	(1)
Cecily Cropper
Vessel glass	157	(2)
Window glass	159	(1)
The lead objects	160	(1)
The window cames	160	(1)
Cecily Cropper
Other lead objects	161	(1)
The Worked Stone	161	(6)
John Blair
Architectural fragments	161	(5)
Mason's marks on the standing masonry	166	(1)
Comments on the Romanesque stonework	167	(1)
Jeffrey West
The Source of the Stonework	167	(1)
Philip Powell
Mortar Analysis	167	(2)
Graham Morgan
Mortar analysis	167	(1)
Descriptions	167	(1)
Analytical method	168	(1)
Discussion	168	(1)
The Environmental Evidence	169	(14)
The Animal Bones	169	(12)
Kathy Ayres
Dale Serjeantson
Introduction	169	(1)
Taphonomy	169	(1)
Summary of the animal bones from Period 5 -- late 12th and early 13th centuries	169	(1)
Summary of the animal bones from Period 6 -- mid-late 13th century	170	(2)
Summary of the animal bones from Period 7 -- 14th century	172	(2)
Summary of the animal bones from Period 9 -- 17th and 18th centuries	174	(1)
Butchery	175	(1)
Small mammals	175	(1)
Sieved material	176	(1)
Measurements	176	(1)
Bird remains	176	(1)
Fish remains	177	(1)
Spatial analysis	178	(1)
Discussion	178	(3)
Later 12th- and 13th-Century Plant and Invertebrate Remains	181	(2)
Mark Robinson
The moat	181	(1)
The tower garderobe	181	(1)
The north-west garderobe	182	(1)
Survey Information on the Site and the Adjacent Church	183	(18)
Aerial Photographs	183	(1)
Tim Allen
Introduction	183	(1)
Results	183	(1)
Geophysical Survey	183	(8)
Introduction	183	(1)
The ground radar survey	183	(1)
Chris Meats
Mike Tite
Survey Area 1	183	(1)
Survey Area 2	184	(2)
Resistivity and Magnetometer survey	186	(1)
Tim Horsley
Andrew David
Introduction	186	(1)
Aims and Methods	186	(1)
Results	186	(5)
The Norman Church at Witney	191	(2)
John Blair
Documentary Evidence
Introduction	193	(1)
Tim Allen
The Evidence of the Winchester Pipe Rolls, 1208--1398	193	(4)
John Blair
Introduction	193	(1)
The environs and the perimeter walls	193	(2)
The inner curia	195	(1)
The barton	196	(1)
Post-Medieval Evidence for the Buildings	197	(1)
Alan Crossley
The Buck Illustration	198	(3)
The drawing	198	(1)
Alan Crossley
Correspondence with the excavated archaeology	199	(1)
Tim Allen
Conclusion	200	(1)
Alan Crossley
Discussion	201	(26)
Tim Allen
Period 1 -- Roman	201	(1)
Period 2 -- Late Saxon	201	(1)
The Chronology of the 12th Century (Periods 3--5)	201	(5)
Documentary evidence	201	(1)
The Architectural evidence	202	(1)
The numismatic evidence	202	(1)
The ceramic evidence	202	(2)
The alternative chronologies	204	(1)
The later chronology	204	(1)
The earlier chronology	205	(1)
Period 3A: The First Buildings of the 12th-Century Manor	206	(5)
The Solar Tower	206	(2)
The East Range	208	(2)
The boundary ditch and early curtain wall	210	(1)
Period 3B	211	(1)
Period 4A	211	(3)
The chapel (incorporating comments from John Blair)	211	(2)
The raised terrace	213	(1)
Period 4B	214	(4)
The east garderobe block	214	(1)
The infilling of the chapel	215	(1)
The central pier within the Solar Tower	216	(1)
The primary dump against the Solar Tower	216	(1)
The moat	217	(1)
Summary of the developments	218	(1)
Period 4C: Construction of the Curtain Wall	218	(1)
The north gatehouse	219	(1)
Source of the building stone	219	(1)
Period 5A	219	(3)
Alterations to the Solar Tower	219	(1)
The West Block	220	(1)
Water Supply	221	(1)
Periods 5 and 6	222	(3)
The North Range	222	(2)
The barton in the 12th and early 13th centuries	224	(1)
The extension of the south and east terraces	224	(1)
Periods 7 and 8	225	(1)
The rebuilding of the northern curtain wall	225	(1)
The East Range in the later medieval period	225	(1)
The other buildings of the manor	225	(1)
Period 9	226	(1)
The demolition of the manor	226	(1)
The Manor in Context	227	(9)
Tim Allen
John Blair
Introduction	227	(1)
The Siting of the Manor	227	(1)
The Building of the Stone House	227	(2)
The Solar Tower	228	(1)
John Blair
The hall	228	(1)
The Layout of the 12th-Century Manor	229	(1)
John Blair
Witney in the Anarchy	230	(1)
The Later 12th Century	231	(1)
Documentary Background	231	(1)
The Embanking in and Around the Solar Tower	232	(1)
The Foundation of the Planned Town of Witney	232	(2)
Contacts and Status	234	(2)
Primary Sources Consulted	236	(1)
Bibliography	237	(8)
Index	245