Dear all
I am sure someone can help Martin Biddle (cc'd) with his queries. And, if
so, do please email him directly, and not me!
With thanks.
John
ORIGINAL MESSAGE
I would like to ask for your advice. During the Seven Years War and the
American War of Independence there were militia camps around Winchester.
We have contemporary plans of all but one, the camp of 1759-60, of
which, ironically, we have four versions of a rather good painting from
the south-west, but no contemporary plan.
We are about to complete the Winchester volume of the Historic Towns
Atlas where we have paid particular attention to the military estate in
the city from the 1790s and to the earlier camps in the countryside around.
As you will guess, this 'is not my subject' but I imagine that there is
someone whose field it is and if so would very much like to be in touch
with them. I know your own project runs from 1858 but I thought that
you if anyone would know who was working on earlier periods.
There is also the question of the Badger Field development site north of
the city, at present open farmland, which is the site of the well
documented Hessian Camp of 1756 and (on the same site but on a different
alignment) the militia camp of 1761 in which Edward Gibbon served. This
represents a remarkable opportunity to examine in detail the archaeology
of such camps (there is a very detailed plan of 1756) which would be
obliterated if the proposed massive development of the site for housing
were to go ahead without some notice being taken. I have often wondered
if the site should not be scheduled. It is covered by metal
detectorists most weekends, bussed in from Birmingham, so the story goes.
---------------------------------
Dr John Schofield MIfA FSA
Director of Studies, Cultural Heritage Management
University of York
Department of Archaeology
King's Manor
Exhibition Square
YORK YO1 7EP
Tel. 01904 323968
Email: [log in to unmask]
http://www.york.ac.uk/archaeology/staff/academic-staff/john-schofield/
http://www.york.ac.uk/docs/disclaimer/email.htm
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