Excavation by P.J. Drury at Rawreth, 1968 - EEX28806

In 1966-1967 Miss B. Watts found a scatter of prehistoric, Roman and medieval pottery on the surface of the large arable field (51.75 acres) to the west of Chichester Hall, Rawreth; spoil from a recently filled electricity cable trench in the same area (TQ 774 929) produced a sherd of Saxon grass-tempered ware. 1 Thus, when the construction of the A127 Chichester Hall diversion began in February 1968, the contractor's excavations were observed, and the features revealed were· recorded. Excavations within the road verges were subsequently undertaken for three weeks during April 1968, under the direction of the writer for the Wickford Archaeological Society, as an adjunct to the excavations at the Roman 'small town' at Beauchamps Farm, Wickford, directed by Warwick Rodwell and financed by the Department of the Environment. Observation of the roadworks, particularly the replacement of Rawreth Shot Bridge, was maintained until the effective completion of the contract early in 1969.