More information : SP 237 577. Site of Saxon royal or episcopal palace. A group of buildings and other features covering 5 to 8 acres,
first discovered on air photographs, was suggested by
Sonia Hawkes to be a series of "palace" buildings of Saxon date,
comparable with those of Yeavering and Cheddar, and perhaps of
two phases, judging by a difference in alignment. Digging of a
pipe-trench across the site in 1970 strengthened the suggestion
that the crop marks represent major timber buildings and
grubenhauser, and uncovered Saxon pottery, possible plaster, and
bones of domestic animals. A radio-carbon dating of 875AD <+->88
years, and the middle or late Saxon dating of the pottery,
indicate occupation in the 8th or 9th centuries. Documentary
evidence shows that the land in the area was conveyed by the
Kings of Mercia to the bishops of Worcester at some time after
781 AD, and the late date of the site suggests the possibility
that it was an episcopal residence, or a royal residence that
continued in use after the ownership of the estate passed to the
bishopric. A Roman brick and a piece of possible building stone
were found near the south wall of a building which may have had
an apsidal end, and is suggested tentatively to have been a
church, perhaps re-using Roman material in its construction. (1-3)
Scheduled as `Site of buildings and enclosures 500yds (460m) E of
Hatton Rock Farm'. (4)
Aerial photographs taken by English Heritage in 2013 show cropmarks of a number of small rectangular enclosures, pits and a large enclosure, possibly the remains of buildings associated with the settlement centred at SP 2374 5767. (5)
|