Book Review by Edward Sammes
© WLHG
This full archaeological report on the excavations carried out by the Trust for Wessex Archaeology in 1987, leaves one wondering if demolition was really necessary on that site. It lies close to the Thames between Thames Avenue and River Street and is today a car park. The report gives both details of the preliminary excavation carried out in 1986 and of the main dig in 1987.
From the main dig a number of archaeological experts give reports in their own special field. Thus for flint tools, of which there were over a thousand recovered, Francis Healey gives a detailed breakdown and compares them with other mesolithic sites in the Thames Valley. Loraine Mepham has looked at the pre-medieval pottery sherds which range from late Bronze Age through Iron Age to Roman. There is a short report on the various molluscs found.
There are many more artefacts from the medieval period. By this date the area had been divided into blocks separated by causeways, a water channel and a moat. The later medieval settlement could probably be the result of expansion of the suburbs of Underore away from the bridge.
There are copious drawings of the various phases and these are helped by photographs. A building in the North East Corner had been extensively robbed but sufficient foundation remained to postulate the size and shape of one bay of a medieval building with a garderobe on one side. This building possibly dates from the 12-13th centuries but the garderobe did not discharge outwards into a moat. Such systems could be used, via the moat to gain access to the interior. The building itself had a short life and the writer of the report wonders if it was ever completed. Amongst the more sensational finds that could be wholly attributed to a period were the remains of eight horses deposited in disarticulated condition in a narrow trench.
The medieval pottery came from London and Rouen with a predominance at one stage of local wares from Camley Gardens, Maidenhead. The pottery is dealt with in great detail for the expert as are also the various types of seeds, vegetable matter, leather and wooden bowls. For the archaeologist there are detailed tables at every stage of the report accompanied by plans and certainly enough diagrams to enable one to make a pair of leather shoes!
The report is accompanied by a lengthy bibliography and an index, all in all it is well presented and described for the archeological fraternity. Regrettably the cover carries the only attempt to give a glimpse of what the site might have looked like in the 13th century. It is to be hoped that Wessex Archaeology will produce a booklet for the layman in due course.
Wessex Archaeology Report No.3 1993 ISBN 1874350051 £15 paperback 112pp
Edward Sammes
Windsor Local History Group 