Cawston Deserted Medieval Village

Description of this historic site

The site of the Medieval deserted settlement of Cawston. The settlement might have beome depopulated when Pipewell Abbey was established. The remains of the settlement are visible as a series of earthworks. The site is located 300m north of Fox Covert.

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Notes about this historic site

1 Rous has a long entry for this village. The monastery of Pipewell appears to have depopulated the village. Beresford was unable to locate the site but suggested that it was located between Cawston House School and the stream.
2 The site of the hamlet of Cawston lies between Cawston Lodge and the main road from Bilton to Warwick. It was discovered a few years ago.
3 Medium Archaeology (B), period of desertion known but documentary evidence inferior in quantity.
4 No surface indications.
5 At Bloxam’s location are earthworks indicative of field boundaries, possible house platforms and ditches.
6 See PRN 4144 for possible cropmark evidence for the former village.
7 The excavation of an area for a car park extension at Cawston House to the south east of the DMV, revealed no features or finds of archaeological interest (See WA 7403).
8 Trial trench investigation was undertaken across the Lime Tree Village development area (centred SP 4750 7300) (EWA7308). Four visible features within a field to the west of Cawston House were investigated. Two were shown to be of certain modern origin; two others were undated but were most likely to be modern in date also. A single undated curvilinear gully was recorded in one trench but no other archaeological remains were found.
9 Excavations by Stuart Palmer of Warwickshire Museum field Services. No archaeological remains were found in this area. Suggests that the DMV did not extend into this area.
10 Investigation of cropmarks recorded across this area by NMP. Two substantially sized ditches were recorded. One contained slag used in the production of metalwork; this is associated with the probable smithy excavated in the DMV to the northeast (see MWA4144). Medieval pottery was present within the fill of the other ditch. It is likely that it represents a continuation of DMV features. It is concluded that the north part of the site evidenced the very southern limit of Cawston DMV (MWA4144). This comprises some six field boundary ditches, a drain and an area of ridge and furrow.