The period between 1540 and 1900 saw a great change in the landscapes of South Gloucestershire. By the end of the period, much of the region had a strong industrial focus. South Gloucestershire was also to witness one of the major battles of the English Civil War - the Battle of Lansdown in 1643.
Warmley Brassworks
"His feet were as fine brass. Burning in a furnance"
See a report on William Champion's brassworks under read more.
Bitton Spa?
You may have heard of the mineral springs at Bath and its associated Spa but have you heard of Bitton Spa or Siston Spa? Probably not, however, recent research has suggested that along with Cheltenham, Tunbridge and Buxton, Gloucestershire had about 30 mineral springs recognised before 1850, which had the potential to develop into fully fledged Spas. Indeed Bitton may have had a mini spa based around the Gothic Bathhouse at Field Grove Farm. The Siston site noted as St Bridgets' Well in Rudder's New History of Gloucestershire in 1779 is as yet unlocated. Perhaps St Anne's well has changed its name
The Dramway
The Dramway was the last horse drawm tramway in England. It took Coal from the collieries around Coalpit Heath to the Avon to fuel the fires of Bristol. A guide to the Dramway can be viewed from the read more link. Apologies for the quality of the illustrations we hope this does not sffect your enjoyment.
How did a small scale railway operate: see other web sites
Excavations at Champion's Brassworks
Construction work at Tower Road North gave archaeologists the opportunity to look at an area that seemed from early maps to lie within the boundaries of the brassworks of William Champion - one of those at the forefront of the industrial revolution.
The owners of 140 Tower Road North in Warmley found large quantities of ore and metalworking slag and spelter in their back garden prior to the construction of a patio and conservatory. This is, perhaps, not unexpected with the property's close proximity to Champion's works. According to the Tithe Map of 1841, the back garden was on the site of a rectangular range of the brass casting areas. On closer inspection is was clear that not only was this material present but also one could see parts of furnace linings and crucibles connected to brass or copper working. A team from the council and Kingswood Heritage Museum descended on the site for a day in October to examine the deposits exposed in ground clearance.
Two walls were excavated, one which was well faced and with its exterior surface rendered. A trench then cut through the lowest rendered levels and a further wall was terraced in - the gardens are on quite a gradient. Oyster shells, consumed by people working nearby in the past, were common much as on the Roman sites we examine in this issue. A copper bar was also found, perhaps connected to the pin-making industry, and other finds included clay pipe and some 18th and 19th century pottery - the majority being broadly contemporary with the brassworks and industrial use of the site. The walls were constructed from various materials, including large squared blocks of granite and copper slag - perhaps the detritus of the brassworks complex.
Apparently, part of the brassworks site was sold off in plots from 1836 to 1840. James White bought the old melting and charcoal houses and established a pottery on the site. Below the later wall that we found was a large piece of pottery - a piece of a salt-glazed stoneware storage vessel. Onto this vessel was stamped 'Warmley Pottery'.
Perhaps this was made in White's pottery - when further investigations are carried out we should be able to date the piece and thus the building of the second wall.
The householder gave us a rare opportunity to examine some of the industrial archaeology in close proximity to Champion's works. Although not part of the brassworks, the results have revealed two hitherto unknown walls as well as material connected to the Warmley brass, pottery and pin-making industries.