Bidford’s past explained in online exhibition
The history of Bidford on Avon, dating back to prehistoric times and covering Roman, Anglo-Saxon and Medieval times, is examined in depth in an online exhibition.
Warwickshire County Council’s website has two current exhibitions; one details the quarrying history of Mancetter, the other looks at the many finds that archaeologists have found in Bidford on Avon.
Evidence from the earliest human settlements has been found in the shape of stone tools and aerial photographs have been found which suggest the dead were buried in the area during the Bronze Age.
Illustrations also show flint artefacts, found south of Tower Hill, dating back to somewhere between 4000 and 700 BC.
Moving forward in time, the exhibition then focuses on a small settlement from Romano-British times. Timber buildings, pottery and ancient rubbish tips are evidence of the Roman occupation.
Exhibition then details the finds made in 1971 of a female skeleton. Various pendants show her to be an important local woman. Spangles and bucket shaped pendant suggest that she was involved in an ancient form of healing.
The pagan burials of 187 humans, uncovered in 1921 are also tackled in greater depth.
The exhibition closes with details on the medieval aspects of the town including how financing repairs to the bridge allowed the benefactor to commit sins for an entire year!
Christina Evans, archaeological project manager with Warwickshire County Council who works at the Historic Environment Record (HER), said: “The exhibition gives several layers of information so is fine for those who want to just browse and pick up a few snippets.
"However, clicking on links goes into much greater depths about one of Warwickshire’s most fascinating towns and we urge people to have a browse and see for themselves just what an amazing past Bidford on Avon has.”
The online exhibitions have been created as part of Warwickshire Museum Field Service’s project ‘Extracting Warwickshire’s Past’ and is available by following the link below.
The photographs and information from the exhibition will be mounted on panels and touring local libraries in the coming months.