Coughton Court, Warwickshire. A Programme of Archaeological Investigations

A programme of archaeological investigations was undertaken by Birmingham Archaeology between May 2009 and March 2010. The watching brief, evaluation and associated excavations have provided evidence for a large medieval enclosure or boundary ditch within the grounds of Coughton Court. During excavation ditch termini were uncovered adjacent to each other within the central area of the site at the point where a present day road and path converge before sweeping to the north in front of Coughton Court. They provide evidence for an entrance into an enclosed area. The ditch was probably originally excavated to form a boundary between the medieval moated settlement and the former extent of the medieval village. It may also have acted as a drainage mechanism for the Cain Brook as examination of Della Hooke's 1981 survey suggest the line of the ditch continues further to the south. It is also likely that the entrance would have led directly to the medieval village.