In the 1990s, Avon Council commissioned a series of studies of the archaeology and development of a number of small towns. In South Gloucestershire these included five mediaeval planned towns, including one spectacular failure at Hawkesbury, a post-mediaeval urban area and a modern industrial town. Four of the mediaeval towns have Saxon or possibly earlier origins but one – Chipping Sodbury, was built on a new site. These documents are desk-based studies of the surviving archaeological resources. They include assessments of below-ground archaeological remains, standing buildings and the historic plan form of the town. They consider the development of the town and, where possible, depict the sites mentioned on a modern map.
Medieval towns guidance note
The small mediaeval towns and medieval village centres of Avon currently present difficulties in the management and protection of the archaeological resource that they contain. It is clear that many of these areas preserve archaeological information and material which is vital to the understanding of the origins and development of these settlements. This fragile and unrenewable resource is threatened by development, especially in areas where development outside of villages is discouraged. Because of this, PPG16 and County Structure Plan Policy BE4A indicate that, unless there is good evidence of the absence of archaeological deposits and structures at the site, all groundbreaking developments in the area of the levels will require archaeological assessment prior to determination of applications.
Small medieval towns in Avon
A report on the small medieval towns in Avon was produced in 1974. It gave a rapid review of the archaeology and history of Chipping Sodbury, Marshfield, Thornbury and Wickwar (and other historic towns in the rest of Avon). Although rather dated the report contains much which is pertinent today.