Burh to Borough

THE 'BURH TO BOROUGH' PROJECT

Many of Wallingford’s early secrets lie hidden beneath the town and the ‘Wallingford Burh to Borough Project’ hoped to uncover some of them. The final result was the subject of a special exhibition in Wallingford Museum throughout 2011.

The pilot phase of this exciting project ran from 2002-05 but it was then awarded funding for a three-year extension so that the archaeological and historical roots of our town could be researched in great detail. The work was led by a team from the universities of Leicester, Exeter and Oxford, in partnership with the Town Council, SODC, The Wallingford Historical and Archaeological Society (TWHAS), and Wallingford Museum. By analysing the rich archaeological and documentary data for Wallingford for the period from 600AD to 1250, the Project had scope to discover fresh and vital evidence: firstly, about the origins of the Saxon burh – why it developed where it is, its layout and its defences; secondly, the impact of the Norman Conquest - the building of the castle and the remodelling of the town; and thirdly the medieval development of the borough.

The pilot project included geophysics and topographic surveys in all key areas of the town, charting and seeking to interpret buried and remnant archaeology and to assess potential for more detailed analysis. The main phase of study involved fuller geophysical assessment, systematic analysis and mapping of the town and castle defences, field walking, targeted excavation, analysis of church buildings, landscape survey, and archive collation and re-interpretation.

The documentary research was hugely assisted by the work of the TWHAS Research Group. TWHAS organised a highly successful one-day conference in May 2008 on The Origins of Wallingford: a Reassessment and an expanded version of the papers given with additional material have now been published as a British Archaeological Report called "Origins of the Borough of Wallingford - Archaeological & Historical Perspectives" edited by KSB Keats-Rohan & DR Roffe. It covers a wide range of topics, including a comprehensive Wallingford bibliography. The recommended retail price is £28 but the Museum shop is selling them at a special discount price of £24.

The Museum organised a second conference in 2009 - Medieval Wallingford: Debates in History, Archaeology & Architecture and a third in October 2010 on Wallingford Castle in Context. The publication of the new volume based on some of the papers given at the conferences in 2009 and 2010 and including major new research since then, is due in October 2013. The Monograph of all the archaeological work will also be published at about that time.

There werea variety of opportunities for community participation in the Burh to Borough Project, such as open days, talks, excavation training, garden archaeology, and finds recognition. Field seasons comprised a week-long block each April and a three-week summer block. All this activity was  co-ordinated by the full-time Project Officer - Dr Matt Edgeworth – and supported by students from the universities and members of TWHAS. Wallingford Museum  displayed the Project’s findings as work progressed. In April 2008 the geophysics undertaken by the Project team and members of TWHAS revealed some interesting results. Major excavations in July/August investigated potential features on the Kinecroft, Bullcroft and Castle.

In 2009, a TWHAS geophysics team, led by Gerard Latham, undertook a major survey of the inner bailey of the castle - with spectacular results! This has led to the choice of the 2009 Castle Site trench - the first time ever that the inner bailey has been explored archaeologically. Other geophysics work has revealed a possible early road alignment on the Wallingford School Site - this too dictated the position of a 2009 trench. On the Kinecroft a new trench, nearer to the Saxon banks, continued examination of the medieval houses, street and yards traced in 2008, to tackle their origins and fate.

We have also excavated a number of test pits in our Garden Archaeology Project (Keyhole Digs) and more are planned - we hope to do 100. So if you want a chance to take part, why not join TWHAS now? See contacts on our Home page.

If you are interested to know more, please contact Judy Dewey (Tel 01491 651127 or e-mail: judy@piepowder.co.uk).