Old Windsor Palace |
| Hob Uid: 251386 | |
Location :
Windsor and Maidenhead
Old Windsor
|
| Grid Ref : SU9912074570 |
| Summary : The site of a palace used by Edward the Confessor and the early Norman Kings of England at Kingsbury, Old Windsor, was excavated by Berkshire Archeaology Society in 1953 and Brian Hope-Taylor for the Ministry of Works from 1954 to 1958. The site began as a small settlement, the earliest phase of which probably lies under the churchyard. Phase II was probably a farm or small village dated circa 650 to 700 to 750 AD. Phase III probably went on to the 9th century, and a water-mill with three vertical wheels is probably of that period. A stone building nearby was destroyed by fire in the late 9th or 10th century. (Possibly due to a Viking raid) It seems probable that the tradition of a Royal residence at Old Windsor had begun by the 9th century. A water mill of Norse type with horizontal wheel was in use up to early 11th century; Later features of the site are timber buildings on sleeper beams of 10th or 11th century. A gilt bronze sword guard of just pre-conquest date was among the finds. Old Windsor features as an important vill in Domesday Book but was abandoned for the New Windsor site in the reign of Henry I. The site was levelled by the plough in the 12th cent. and a building known as the Grange dated 13th/14th century was the last notable feature of the site. A great deal of pottery and other debris was recovered. Fragments of ditch and a pit, visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs, may relate to this site. |
More information : [SU 9912 7457] Kingsbury site.
The site of a palace used by Edward the Confessor and the early
Norman Kings of England at Kingsbury, Old Windsor, was excavated
by Berks. A.S. in 1953 and Brian Hope-Taylor for the MOW.1954-8.
Interim Report:- The site began as a small settlement, the
earliest phase of which probably lies under the churchyard. Phase
II was probably a farm or small village dated circa 650 to 700 to
750 AD. Phase III probably went on to the 9th century, and a
water-mill with three vertical wheels is probably of that period.
A stone building nearby was destroyed by fire in the late 9th or
10th century. (Possibly due to a Viking raid) It seems probable
that the tradition of a Royal residence at Old Windsor had begun
by the 9th century. A water mill of Norse type with horizontal
wheel was in use up to early 11th century; Later features of
the site are timber buildings on sleeper beams of 10th or 11th
century. A gilt bronze sword guard of just pre-conquest date was
among the finds.
Old Windsor features as an important vill in Domesday Book but
was abandoned for the New Windsor site in the reign of Henry I.
The site was levelled by the plough in the 12th cent. and a building
known as the Grange dated 13th/14th century was the last notable
feature of the site. A great deal of pottery and other debris
was recovered.
Scheduled.
Mr. Underhill confirmed that the siting by authority 1 is the
focal point of the main occupation area. The majority of the
finds are with Hope-Taylor and the MOW but a few items are in the
Guildhall Museum, Windsor.
The area is now under the plough. No surface features visible.
(1-5)
Fragments of ditch and a pit, visible as cropmarks on aerial
photographs, may relate to this site. The ditch is 8m long and it
and the pit are centred at SU 9910 7456 and SU 9911 7456.
(Morph No. TG.517.5.1-2) (6)
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