Medieval building found near Coventry as experts discover how people lived 500 years ago

[dutchman]

The building on the edge of Keresley has been discovered by Worcestershire Archaeology during the planning process for 260 new homes there



A medieval building has been discovered on the edge of Keresley near Coventry. An excavation carried out by archaeologists has found evidence of the people who lived there over 500 years ago.

The discovery has been announced by experts at Worcestershire Archaeology, who have recently undertaken archaeological work on the edge of Keresley village. They carried out the work as part of a planning process that will see 260 homes built in the area.

It is not immediately clear what will happen to the site, but information issued to promote the discovery says developers plan to "build 260 high-quality affordable homes on the site where the finds were made". The archaeologists now want to share their finds with the public.

Nina O’Hare, from Worcestershire Archaeology’s Outreach Team, said: “This is a great chance for people locally to discover more about, and even hold, the archaeology on their doorstep. Most excavations, including this one, happen as part of the planning process, so it’s wonderful to get a chance to share the results with people.

"There’s nothing quite like holding an object that is centuries old, wondering who made it and all the stories it could tell.” People will be able to handle some of the finds and see the discoveries at a free drop-in session at Keresley Community Library from 4pm to 6pm on Wednesday, December 6.

Worcestershire Archaeology say they have recently carried out archaeological work in the Keresley area on behalf of RPS Consulting, Platform Housing and Countryside Partnerships as part of plans for the new homes in the area. Across the excavation areas, the archaeologists said remains of a probable medieval building had been recorded.

They also unearthed a cobble surface along with other archaeological features. According to the localhistories website, Keresley began as a Saxon village, although it was not mentioned in the Domesday Book.

By the 1300s, the site says, it had a population of around 150. It appears life there did not change dramatically until the Industrial Revolution, when many occupants were either farmers or weavers for the Coventry cloth trade.



Adam Sharpe, Managing Director, Countryside Partnerships South West Midlands, said: “Discovering archaeological finds in Keresley is really exciting and we would encourage people to come and find out more about the people who lived here over five centuries ago. Place making is at the core of Countryside’s work, and it is fantastic to be able to share how a previous community lived as we start to build a new one here in Coventry in partnership with Platform Housing.”

Countryside Partnerships is working in partnership with Platform Housing Group to build 260 affordable homes on the site where the finds were made. The organisations say they have funded the discovery day "to share the exciting discoveries alongside the modern-day plans with the public".

[dutchman]

The city centre was full of medieval buildings before the council pulled them all down!

I don't mean Spon Street either as that's a modern day reconstruction.