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THE WILTSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND NATURAL HISTORY MAGAZINE 



medieval and post-medieval phases were dominated 

 by the construction, use and re-modelling of the 

 late 13th century street frontage. There is evidence 

 for both domestic and industrial activity, 

 representing an important addition to our 

 knowledge of the archaeology of the town. 



Old Sarum Bridge, Old Sarum Castle (SU 3800 

 2700); Medieval and Post-Medieval 

 Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by English 

 Heritage to produce a structural record of the bridge 

 footings at Old Sarum Castle, in advance of 

 renovation work. The footings of the bridge lie on 

 the east facing (inner) slope of the moat that 

 surrounds the Norman castle. Documentary 

 evidence shows the bridge was excavated between 

 1918 and 1930, prior to the construction of the 

 modern footbridge. Records of this excavation do 

 not appear to survive, though a plan drawn up in the 

 1920s shows three phases of bridge footings in the 

 area of the existing masonry. Records also indicate 

 that this masonry was consolidated (and possibly 

 partially rebuilt) prior to display. Comparison with 

 the 1920s plan indicates that the structure is little 

 altered (at least in terms of its outline) since it was 

 excavated, the exception being the central part where 

 one section of wall is missing and another has been 

 partially covered over. This probably occurred during 

 alterations to the modern footbridge. 



The remains were originally interpreted as bridge 

 footings. A re-evaluation of the evidence suggests 

 that the western section may be the base of an outer 

 gatehouse, built to house the drawbridge pit and 

 winding mechanism. The rest of the masonry is 

 interpreted as forming piers for the bridge. 



The Bakehouse, Old Sarum Castle (SU 3800 

 2700); Medieval 



Wessex Archaeology was commissioned by English 

 Heritage to undertake an archaeological 

 investigation of a depression within the 13th- 

 century bakehouse. The circular depression formed 

 overnight following a prolonged period of watering 

 and heavy rain in the summer of 1 999. It measured 

 elm in diameter and 0.2m deep (from the level 

 ground surface), with a further 0.5m of 'spongy' 

 ground immediately surrounding. Situated towards 

 the centre of the bakehouse, it lies to the south of 

 the main entrance to the inner bailey. 



A single 3 x 3m trench centred on the depression 

 was excavated by hand. The excavation revealed a 

 compacted chalk layer (possibly the bakehouse 

 floor), several post-holes and part of a rectangular 

 structure, thought to be one of the ovens, all 



previously recorded in 1911 by Colonel Hawley. 

 The floor and rectangular structure had both 

 partially subsided into the depression. It was 

 concluded that the depression may have been 

 caused by backfill material within an earlier well 

 shaft subsiding. The well shaft was excavated to a 

 depth of 1.2m (to the top of the consolidated fill), 

 and measured c.2m in diameter. An auger survey 

 carried out as part of the excavation revealed that 

 the well shaft did not exceed the original hillfort 

 ground surface, a depth of 5.85m from the present 

 ground level. The well is undated. 



Shrewton 



The Catherine Wheel (SU 0685 4385); Post- 

 Medieval and Modern 



An archaeological field evaluation was carried out 

 on the southern side of the car park belonging to 

 the former Catherine Wheel public house, 

 Shrewton, by AC archaeology. The site is situated 

 near the junction of the A360 (Maddington Street) 

 and Shrewton High Street (SU 0685 4385), and is 

 considered to lie within one of the clusters of 

 medieval settlement which now form the modern 

 village of Shrewton. The evaluation comprised the 

 machine-excavation of two 1.6m wide trenches 

 totalling 15m in length. One revealed extensive 

 evidence for post-medieval/modern activity, whilst 

 the other included the foundations of a brick-built 

 building, also of post-medieval date, overlying river 

 valley deposits. No earlier finds were present. 



Uplands and Sunnyside, Chalk Hill (SU 070 434); 

 Modern 



An archaeological field evaluation was carried out 

 on the former site of Uplands and Sunnyside, Chalk 

 Hill, by AC archaeology. Evidence from early maps 

 show the site to lie between the settlements of 

 Maddington, Rollestone and Homanton. The 

 evaluation comprised the machine-excavation of a 

 single trench, amounting to a 2% sample of the 

 site. The trench proved negative, with no subsoil 

 features or deposits of potential archaeological 

 interest present. No pre-modern finds were 

 recovered from the spoil heaps. 



South Marston 



Primary School (SU 1942 8792); Medieval and 



Post-Medieval 



A large oval landscape mound in the grounds of 



the school was investigated by Bernard Phillips 



