Spelsbury |
Hob Uid: 334992 | |
Location : Oxfordshire West Oxfordshire Spelsbury
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Grid Ref : SP3486021550 |
Summary : The site of a large medieval stone building, possibly a high status residence or Manor House. The site was originally interpreted as a Medieval Shrunken Village but investigations carried out in 1991 do not support this interpretation.The site compromises of an area of earthworks under pasture just to the west of All Saint's Church. A rectangular feature or "platform" made up of a spread of rubble with smaller circular and linear dumps to the north has been identified. These remains suggest the presence of a substantial stone building and the associated banks indicate that the building complex occupied a substantial area of land.The site was initially interpreted as a shrunken village, however the re-examination of the remains does not support this. Another interpretation put forward for the site is that it may have been a high status residence and even the Wychwood residence of the Bishops of Worcester which later became a castle of the Beauchamps, Plantagenet Earls of Worcester. This interpretation of the site as a high status residence may be supported by the finding in 1933 of a gilt bronze dish, possibly a late 7th or early 8th century hanging-bowl escutcheon. A Mercian royal charter of 840 (the earliest historical reference to the Spelsburg area) may also support this interpretation as it refers to King Berhtwulf granting to Bishop Heaberht of Worcester land for a residence at Wychwood. |
More information : (348 215) An area of earthworks to the West of All Saints Church. Spelsbury (Possible medieval village shrinkage). (1)
Extensive earthworks now under rough pasture centred at SP 34852149 and adjacent to All Saint Church indicate shrinkage. (2)
The site of a large medieval stone building, possibly a high status residence or Manor House. The site was originally interpreted as a Medieval Shrunken Village but investigations carried out in 1991 do not support this interpretation. The site compromises of an area of earthworks under pasture just to the west of All Saint's Church. A rectangular feature or "platform" made up of a spread of rubble with smaller circular and linear dumps to the north has been identified. These remains suggest the presence of a substantial stone building and the associated banks indicate that the building complex occupied a substantial area of land. The site was initially interpreted as a shrunken village, however the re-examination of the remains does not support this. Another interpretation put forward for the site is that it may have been a high status residence and even the Wychwood residence of the Bishops of Worcester which later became a castle of the Beauchamps, Plantagenet Earls of Worcester. This interpretation of the site as a high status residence may be supported by the finding in 1933 of a gilt bronze dish, possibly a late 7th or early 8th century hanging-bowl escutcheon. A Mercian royal charter of 840 (the earliest historical reference to the Spelsburg area) may also support this interpretation as it refers to King Berhtwulf granting to Bishop Heaberht of Worcester land for a residence at Wychwood. (3)
The Oxfordshire Historic Environment Record includes the same information as source 3 as well as additional references to Corbett's book on the History of Spelsbury which interprets the site as the Wychwood residence of the Bishops of Worcester which later became a castle of the Beauchamps, Plantagenet Earls of Worcester. It also contains a number of photographs of the site. (4)
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