Record Details

Summary

The burh of Stafford was founded by Aethelfleda in 913 AD. The medieval town developed in the same area and had continuous borough status throughout the medieval period. Saxon, medieval and post-medieval archaeological remains have been discovered in the town.

Monument Type(s):

• BURH (Established, Anglo Saxon - 913 AD to 913 AD)
• TOWN (Norman - 1206 AD to 1206 AD)
• TOWN (Tudor to Victorian - 1547 AD to 1899 AD)
• MARKET (Established, Norman - 1175 AD to 1175 AD)

Associated Events:

• EST1032 - An archaeological evaluation at the Shopmobility development site, Broad Street, Stafford, August 1998. (NRHE Name - Broad Street Shopmobility)
• EST1049 - An archaeological watching brief at the Bear Inn, Greengate Street, Stafford, July to August 1998. (NRHE Name - The Bear Inn, Greengate Street) (Ref: Report No. 12)
• EST1060 - An archaeological evaluation at Salter Street, Stafford, October 1994. (NRHE Name - Land at Salter Street)
• EST1042 - An archaeological watching brief at 37-38 Eastgate Street, Stafford, August 2002. (NRHE Name - 37-38 Eastgate Street)
• EST1192 - An archaeological watching brief at 2 Mount Street, Stafford, February 1996. (NRHE Name - 2 Mount Street)
• EST1066 - An archaeological evaluation at Water Street, Stafford, August to September 1992. (NRHE Name - Water Street)
• EST1035 - An archaeological excavation and watching brief at 4 Chapel Street, Stafford, January to March 2002. (NRHE Name - Land at 4 Chapel Street) (Ref: Report No. 115)
• EST1062 - An archaeological evaluation at the Sheridan Centre, Gaolgate, Stafford, Staffordshire.
• EST1067 - An archaeological watching brief at the Whitley Building, Stafford College, Stafford, August 1999. (The Whitley Building, Stafford College)
• EST1048 - An archaeological watching brief at the Swan Hotel, 45/46 Greengate Street, Stafford, March 2002. (NRHE Name - Swan Hotel, 45/46 Greengate Street)
• EST1058 - An archaeololgical watching brief at 3 Market Square, Stafford, October 1999. (NRHE Name - 3 Market Square)
• EST1313 - An archaeological evaluation at The Sheridan Centre, Stafford, Staffordshire.
• EST1368 - An archaeological watching brief at St Chad's Place, Stafford, June to July 2004. (NRHE Name - Land at Saint Chad's Place, Stafford)
• EST1040 - An archaeological evaluation at 41 Eastgate Street, Stafford, November 2011. (NRHE Name - 41 Eastgate Street) (Ref: Report No. 872)
• EST620 - An archaeological evaluation on the Member's Car Park, Eastgate Street, Stafford, December 2000. (NRHE Name - The Member's Car Park, Eastgate Street) (Ref: Report No. 163)
• EST1047 - An archaeological evaluation at 25-27 Gaolgate Street, Stafford, March 1998. (NRHE Name - Yates Wine Bar, 25-27 Gaolgate Street) (Ref: Project No. E281)
• EST1064 - An archaeological evaluation at Tipping Street Car Park, Stafford, September 1999. (NRHE Name - Tipping Street Car Park)
• EST1046 - Boreholing at 25-27 Gaolgate Street, Stafford, Staffordshire.
• EST1041 - Archaeological excavation at The Telephone Exchange, Eastgate Street, Stafford, February 2002. (NRHE Name - The Telephone Exchange, Eastgate Street)
• EST1033 - An archaeological excavation at the Shopmobility Development Site, Broad Street, Stafford, October 1998. (NRHE Name - Broad Street Shopmobility) (Ref: Project No. E305)
• EST1061 - An archaeological desk-based assessment at the Sheridan Centre, Stafford, Staffordshire.
• EST1036 - An archaeological watching brief at the Sainsbury's Store, Chell Road, Stafford, August 1998. (NRHE Name - Land at Chell Road) (Ref: Report No. B1568A.2R)
• EST1059 - An archaeological watching brief at Bank House, Salter Street, Stafford, August 1999. (NRHE Name - Land at Bank House, Salter Street)

Protected Status:

Full description

EVALUATION OF TIPPING STREET CAR PARK IDENTIFIED TRACES OF MEDIAEVAL PITS AND A MEDIAEVAL DITCH TO S OF SITE THAT MIGHT BE A PART OF THE DEFENCES. ASSESSMENT SUGGESTED THE STRONG POSSIBLIITY OF THE SURVIVAL OF POST MEDIAEVAL, MEDIAEVAL, AND EARLY MEDIAEVAL DEPOSITS BETWEEN TIPPING STREET & SOUTH WALLS. <No sources given for this information>

BOROUGH. CONTINUOUS BOROUGH STATUS. FROM LATE MEDIAEVAL TIMES ONWARDS SUBURBS EXTENED N INTO GOAL GATE AREA AND S ACROSS RIVER INTO THE GREEN. EXTENT OF THESE SURBURBS UNCLEAR UNTIL SHOWN ON C17 MAPS. THE MEDIEVAL TOWN OF STAFFORD DEVELOPED ON THE SITE OF THE C10 BURH FOUNDED BY AETHELFLAED. A BOROUGH AND BURGESSES WERE RECORDED IN 1086. IN 1206 A ROYAL CHARTER GRANTED A FREE BOROUGH. CONTINUOUS BOROUGH STATUS THROUGHOUT PERIOD. BURH. BURH FOUNDED BY AETHELFLEDA, LADY OF THE MERCIANS, IN 913, AS PART OF C10 ANGLO SAXON RECOVERY AND CONSOLIDATION AGAINST THE VIKINGS. <1>

FOUNDATIONS OF POST MEDIAEVAL BUILDINGS IDENTIFIED <3>.

(SB, 22-Jan-2004) The excavation of two archaeological evaluation trenches at the Sheridan Centre, Gaolgate Street, revealed remains of Saxon and medieval date. The earliest feature on the site was a palaeochannel, which could represent an early course of the main river channel of the Sow. Pottery of probable Late Saxon date, recovered from a feature cut into the fill of this channel, would suggest that any diversion of the Sow had taken place before the 11th century. This diversion may have taken place during the construction of the Saxon burgh in the early 10th century; possibly forming an early element of the defences. Alternatively the diversion could have occurred during the Norman reorganisation of the town in the 11th century. No trace of the channel has been identified during archaeological works in other areas of the town, but such evidence may simply be awaiting discovery. Late Saxon and early medieval features were cut into the upper fill of the channel, and although the majority of features identified were cut within the course of the channel, some were identified on the eastern side and the results of earlier test-pitting revealed archaeological remains to the west as well. These features were predominantly pits, with single shallow ditch. Two post-medieval wells were also identified. The pottery represents a virtually continuous sequence from from the late saxon period to c.1300, suggesting continuous activity on the site during this period. <4>

(SB, 07-Oct-2004) Excavation of foundation trenches near County Buildings, off St Chad's Place in 2004 revealed only layers of deep demolition debris and agricultural or garden soil. No medieval deposits or features were recorded in this area. <5>

A market was granted by The King in 1175. (RB 11-09-07) <6>

Sources and further reading

---	SST3569 - Evaluation Report: Nic Appleton-Fox (Marches Archaeology). 2000. The Member's Car Park, Eastgate Street, Stafford, Staffordshire: A Report on an Archaeological Evaluation.
---	SST3890 - Desk Based Assessment Report: Foundations Archaeology. 2002. The Sheridan Centre, Stafford: Archaeological Assessment. No monument Information extracted.
---	SST3988 - Watching Brief Report: David Wilkinson (Stafford Borough Council). 1996. 2 Mount Street, Stafford, Staffordshire: Watching Brief Report. No monument Information extracted.
<1>	SST2313 - Serial: University of Keele. 1972. North Staffordshire Journal of Field Studies Volume 12 (1972). 'The Boroughs of Medieval Staffordshire' by D.M. Palliser, page 69.
<2>	SST3391 - Desk Based Assessment Report: David Wilkinson and Lisa Walters (Stafford Borough Council). 1997. An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment of Land off Tipping Street, Stafford: Archaeology Section Report 11. 1997.
<3>	SST3507 - Evaluation Report: Adam Brossler (Oxford Archaeological Unit). 1999. Tipping Street Car Park, Stafford, Staffordshire: Archaeological Evaluation Report.
<4>	SST1361 - Evaluation Report: Foundations Archaeology. 2002. The Sheridan Centre, Stafford: Archaeological Evaluation. Whole Report.
<5>	SST1968 - Watching Brief Report: Dr. C. J. Crowe (AAA Archaeological Advisors). 2004. Saint Chads Place, Stafford: Report on an Archaeological Watching Brief.
<6>	SST2265 - Serial: University of Keele. 1971. North Staffordshire Journal of Field Studies Volume 11 (1971). 'The Markets of Medieval Staffordshire' by D. M Palliser & A. C. Pinnock, p52.

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