Medieval site discovered near Wellington

[Judi Lynn]

8 July 2013 Last updated at 04:58 ET
Medieval site discovered near Wellington

A previously unknown complex of medieval buildings has been unearthed at a site near Wellington in Somerset.

A team from Wessex Archaeology made the discovery at Longforth Farm during a dig organised before new houses are built on the site.

Experts say glazed ceramic roof tiles and decorated floor tiles suggest they were high status buildings and may be part of a religious or manorial site.

Archaeologists described it as a "significant" and "exciting" find.
The excavations have uncovered the remains of stone foundations in a pattern which suggests there may have been a series of buildings set around courtyards.

Bob Davis from Wessex Archaeology said: "This is a significant find and therefore very exciting, particularly as there are no documentary records that such a site ever existed here.

More:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-23224087

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Medieval 'manor house' unearthed at Longforth Farm development in Wellington
4:30pm Monday 8th July 2013 in Somerset Photograph of the Author By Michael Marsh

AN ancient medieval site believed to be around 900 years old has been unearthed in Wellington.

Archaeologists stumbled across the remains of what is thought to be an old manor house while working on the housing development at Longforth Farm.

They think the building was occupied between the 12th and 14th centuries and experts are working to dig out the full story.

Bob Davis, senior buildings archaeologist for Wessex Archaeology, said: “This is a significant find and therefore very exciting, particularly as there are no documentary records that such a site ever existed here.

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Finds include roof slates, glazed ceramic roof tiles and decorated floor tiles, suggesting they were substantial buildings of high status, perhaps part of a religious or manorial site.

Bosses at Bloor say the excavation will not delay their work and the site will not be built on but will be turned into a pond.

The artefacts will be sent to the Museum of Somerset.

More:
http://www.thisisthewestcountry.co.uk/news/somerset_news/10533672.Medieval__manor_house__unearthed_at_Longforth_Farm_development_in_Wellington/?ref=nt

[Judi Lynn]

1. Mystery Medieval Archaeological Site Uncovered at Somerset Housing Development

Mystery Medieval Archaeological Site Uncovered at Somerset Housing Development
Posted Mon, 07/08/2013 - 10:34 by Karen Nichols

A previously undocumented and unknown high status complex of buildings dating from the medieval period has been unearthed at Longforth Farm, Wellington, Somerset, on the site of a new housing development currently being constructed by Bloor Homes.

The site is being excavated by leading specialist heritage company, Wessex Archaeology who have been working on this part of the site since the end of May and will be spending a further three to four weeks on site before building commences.

Excavations on the site so far have uncovered the remains of stone foundations in a pattern which suggests that there may have been a series of buildings on the site set around courtyards. The mystery lies in exactly what the buildings were used for. Finds on the site include roof slates, glazed ceramic roof tiles and decorated floor tiles suggesting that these were substantial buildings of high status – perhaps part of a religious or manorial site.

Bob Davis, Senior Buildings Archaeologist for Wessex Archaeology said:

“This is a significant find and therefore very exciting, particularly as there are no documentary records that such a site ever existed here. Preliminary dating of pottery sherds found at Longforth Farm suggest that the buildings were occupied between the 12th and 14th centuries. At some stage however, the buildings were abandoned, the useable building materials were robbed out and recycled and the site was forgotten.”

More: http://www.wessexarch.co.uk/blogs/news/2013/07/08/mystery-medieval-archaeological-site-uncovered-somerset-housing-development#sthash.rnjjidNl.dpuf