William of Worcester's Chronicle of England
William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Mick Aston is in Time Team People.
On 1st July 1946 Mick Aston was born to [his father] Harold Aston.
Time Team Series 1 Episode 1: The Guerrilla Base of the King was filmed between 16th April 1993 and 18th April 1993. It was originally shown on 16th January 1994.
Location: Athelney Abbey [Map].
Category: Time Team Early Medieval.
Time Team:
Tony Robinson (age 47), Presenter
Mick Aston (age 47), Bristol University Landscape Archaeologist
Gerry Barber, Bristol University Environmental Archaeologist
Phil Harding (age 43), Wessex Archaeological Trust Field Archaeologist
Carenza Lewis (age 30), Royal Commission on Historic Monuments
Robin Bush (age 50), Archivist
Victor Ambrus (age 58), Historical Illustrator
John Gator, Chris Gaffney, Geophysics
Gerry McDonnell, Archeaological Scientist.
Base: George Hotel [Map] in Wedmore.
Techniques: Field Walking, Excavations, Magnetometry, Resistivity, Soil Coring
Sources: Life of Alfred by Asser, Assers Life of Alfred 878.
Historical Figures: King Alfred "The Great" of Wessex, Guthrum Viking.
Events: Battle of Edington.
Outcomes: Plan of Athelney Abbey [Map], possible site of original Saxon church, Anglo-Saxon iron slag indicating iron working; the furthest west found at the time.
Time Team Series 1 Episode 2: On the Edge of an Empire was filmed between 3rd September 1993 and 5th September 1993. It was originally shown on 23rd January 1994.
Location: Ribchester Roman Fort, Lancashire [Map].
Category: Time Team Roman and Iron Age.
Time Team:
Tony Robinson (age 47), Presenter
Mick Aston (age 47), Bristol University Landscape Archaeologist
Carenza Lewis (age 30), Royal Commission on Historic Monuments
Phil Harding (age 43), Wessex Archaeological Trust Field Archaeologist
Robin Bush (age 50), Archivist
Victor Ambrus (age 58), Historical Illustrator
John Gator, Chris Gaffney, Geophysics
Adrian Olivier, Lancaster University Archaeology Unit
Ermine Street Guard
Techniques: Excavation, Resistivity, Magnetometry
Sources: Publius (or Flavius) Vegetius Renatus' "De re militari"
Historical Figures: Brigantes, Queen Cartimandua, King Caractacus of the Silures, King Venutius of the Brigantes, Vellocatus.
Events:
Outcomes: Broken Roman Quern, Decorated Samian Ware, Punic Ditch, plans of Wooden and Stone Forts, location of bathhouse.
Time Team Series 1 Episode 3: The New Town of a Norman Prince was filmed between 9th April 1993 and 11th April 1993. It was originally shown on 30th January 1994.
Location: Much Wenlock, Shropshire [Map], Wenlock Priory, Shropshire [Map].
Category: Time Team Late Medieval.
Time Team:
Tony Robinson (age 47), Presenter
Mick Aston (age 47), Bristol University Landscape Archaeologist
Carenza Lewis (age 30), Royal Commission on Historic Monuments
Phil Harding (age 44), Wessex Archaeological Trust Field Archaeologist
Gerry Barber, Bristol University Environmental Archaeologist
Robin Bush (age 50), Archivist.
Victor Ambrus (age 58), Historical Illustrator
Oliver Butler, Geophysics Specialist
Mark Horton, Local Archaeologist
Dan Miles, Dendrochronologist
Bob Milligan, Geophysics Specialist
Techniques: Excavations, Dendrochronology, Radar Scan.
Historical Figures: Roger "The Great" Montgomery 1st Earl of Shrewsbury.
Sources. Charter of King Stephen granting a three day fair, Domedays Book [Map], Document stating in 1231 King Henry III visited Much Wenlock.
Outcomes. Location of Great Hall, burbage plots, 1254-1299 Dendrochronology date, 12th-13th Century Pottery.
Time Team Series 1 Episode 4: The Fortress in the Lake was filmed between 16th September 1993 and 18th September 1993. It was originally shown on 6th February 1994.
Locations: Llangorse Lake, Breconshire [Map], St Paulinus' Church, Llangorse [Map].
Category: Time Team Early Medieval.
Time Team:
Tony Robinson (age 47), Presenter
Mick Aston (age 47), Bristol University Landscape Archaeologist
Carenza Lewis (age 30), Royal Commission on Historic Monuments
Phil Harding (age 44), Wessex Archaeological Trust Field Archaeologist
Robin Bush (age 50), Archivist.
Victor Ambrus (age 58), Historical Illustrator
John Gator, Chris Gaffney, Geophysics
Damian Goodburn, Ancient Woodworking Specialist
Mark Redknap, National Museum of Wales
Techniques: Magnetometry
Sources: Anglo-Saxon Chronicle 916, Book of Llandaff Chapter 4 Section 7: Llan Cors, Book of Llandaff Chapter 8
Historical Figures: King Elised of Brecknock, Æthelflæd Lady of the Mercians.
Outcomes: Reconstructed Iron Age boat made from 3.5 tonnes of oak; a copy of an original discovered in Llangorse Lake in Brecon Museum. Metal working on site, shale ring. Boundary Ditch.
Time Team Series 2 Episode 1: Lord of the Isles was filmed between 24th June 1994 and 26th June 1994 was filmed. It was originally shown on 8th January 1995.
Location: Finlaggan, Islay [Map]
Category: Time Team Prehistory, Time Team Early Medieval.
The Time Team:
Tony Robinson (age 48), Presenter
Mick Aston (age 48), Bristol University Landscape Archaeologist
Carenza Lewis (age 31), Royal Commission on Historic Monuments
Phil Harding (age 44), Wessex Archaeological Trust Field Archaeologist
Robin Bush (age 51), Archivist
Victor Ambrus (age 59), Historical Illustrator
John Gator, Chris Gaffney, Geophysics
Stewart Ainsworth (age 43), Landscape Archaeologist
David Caldwell, Director of Excavations
Kate Bonner, Excavation Team
Sally Ann Chandler, Period Clothing Expert
Donald Macfadian, Finlaggan Trust
Simon Mears, GPS System
Historical Figures: King Somerled of Argyll
Sources: Chronicle of Man and the Isles, A Description of the Western Isles of Scotland by Martin Martin, A Description of the Western Isles of Scotland by Martin Martin.
Outcomes: Partly complete Glass Bead, Replica aketon, possible mesolithic site, possibly stone rows aligned to Paps of Jura.
Time Team Series 2 Episode 2: Medieval Dining Hall was filmed between 10th June 1994 and 12th June 1994. It was originally shown on 15th January 1995.
Location: Hylton Castle, County Durham [Map].
Category: Time Team Late Medieval.
Mick Aston (age 48), Bristol University Landscape Archaeologist
Carenza Lewis (age 31), Royal Commission on Historic Monuments
Phil Harding (age 44), Wessex Archaeological Trust Field Archaeologist
Robin Bush (age 51), Archivist
Victor Ambrus (age 59), Historical Illustrator
Susan Ord, Denny Wilson, Community Representatives
John Gator, Chris Gaffney, Geophysics
Stewart Ainsworth (age 43), Bernard, Landscape Archaeologist
Steve Speke, Local Archaeologist
Beric Morley, English Heritage Medieval Buildings Expert
Mark Horton, Bristol University
Rob Bell, Garden Archaeological Consultant
Graciela Ainsworth, Conservationist
White Company
Eric Little, Castle Guide
Sources. English Heritage Managed, [Map] Effigy of William Hylton 4th Baron Hylton.
Historical Figures. William Hylton 4th Baron Hylton.
Outcomes. Early 15th Century Flemish floor tiles, stone roofing tiles, conserved stag on building and Hylton Achievement of Arms, Silver Coin, plan of site, 3D model of site. Later buildings around 1600 with gardens.
The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
Time Team Series 2 Episode 3: The Lost Villa was filmed between 6th May 1994 and 8th May 1994. It was originally shown on 22nd January 1995.
Location: Tockenham, Wiltshire [Map].
Category: Time Team Early Medieval.
The Time Team:
Tony Robinson (age 48), Presenter
Mick Aston (age 48), Bristol University Landscape Archaeologist
Carenza Lewis (age 31), Field Archaeologist
Phil Harding (age 44), Wessex Archaeological Trust Field Archaeologist
Robin Bush (age 51), Archivist
Victor Ambrus (age 59), Historical Illustrator
Stewart Ainsworth (age 43), Landscape Archaeologist
Dr Mike Allen, Environmental Archaeologist
John Gator, Chris Gaffney, Geophysics
Martin Henig, Oxford University
Bryn Walters, Romano-British Archaeologist
Roy Canham, County Archaeologist
Mark Horton, Digger
Louise Shenstone, Mosaic Artist
Amanda Chadburn, English Heritage
Techniques: Coring, Resistivity, Field Walking
Sources: Pevsner who suggests the Roman Figure in the church wall is Asclepius, Plato's Phaedo 118a, Sites and Monuments Record, Tockenham Tithe Map 1866 on linen, 1764 Estate Map.
Outcomes: Martin Henig determines Roman Statue is a Genius; an individual instance of a general divine nature that is present in every individual person, place, or thing like a guardian angel. And Roman Fountain Head in the form of a fish; the finest work of art in Roman Britain. Geophyics identified Roman Villa; Provincial Governors Palace? Carbonised processed grain from Environmental Archaeology. Hypocaust tiles. Saxon pot. Roman Painted Plaster. Roman bowl, glass, mosaic. Monument scheduled.
Time Team Series 2 Episode 4: The Archbishop's Back Garden was filmed between 8th July 1994 and 10th July 1994. It was originally shown on 29th January 1995.
Location: Lambeth Palace [Map], London.
Tony Robinson (age 48), Presenter
Mick Aston (age 48), Bristol University Landscape Archaeologist
Carenza Lewis (age 31), Field Archaeologist
Phil Harding (age 45), Wessex Archaeological Trust Field Archaeologist
Robin Bush (age 51), Archivist
Victor Ambrus (age 59), Historical Illustrator
John Gator, Chris Gaffney, Geophysics
Jane Sidell, Museum of London Archaeologist
Stewart Ainsworth (age 43), Landscape Archaeologist
Harvey Sheldon, Authority on Roman London
Gustav Milne, Institue of Archaeology
Hedley Swain, Field Archaeologist
London Fire Brigade Boat
Sources: Excavations of Bernard Davis in the 1930s, Cassius Dio Book 60 Sections 20 and 21, 1562 Map of London showing Horseferry Stairs and Stangate Stairs, Registers of the Archbishops of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace Library, 1746 Map of Lambeth Palace Gardens, John Rokes 18th Century Map of London
Techniques: Core Samples, Excavation, a string with a brick to determine rievr depth
Outcomes: Piece of a Mortarium, Reconstructed Roman Road, Garden features in the Palace, Roman River Level was lower by a couple of feet, Causeway on lower side of Westminster Bridge, Peer walked across 1950s1, location of Stangate Stairs.
Note 1. The New York Times 26th March 2002. Lord Noel-Buxton waded about half-way across the river and had to swim the rest.
Time Team Series 2 Episode 5: The Saxon Graves was filmed between 24th June 1994 and 26th June 1994. It was originally shown on 5th February 1995.
Location: Winterbourne Gunner, Wiltshire [Map]
Category: Time Team Prehistory, Time Team Early Medieval.
The Time Team:
Tony Robinson (age 48), Presenter
Mick Aston (age 48), Bristol University Landscape Archaeologist
Carenza Lewis (age 31), Royal Commission on Historic Monuments
Phil Harding (age 45), Wessex Archaeological Trust Field Archaeologist
Robin Bush (age 51), Archivist
Victor Ambrus (age 59), Historical Illustrator
Stewart Ainsworth (age 43), Landscape Archaeologist
Helena Cave-Penney, Assistant County Archaeologist
Ivor Lawton, Saxon Blacksmithing
Margaret Cox, Pathologist
Meg Brooks, Conservationist
Peter Cox, Local Archaeologist
Mick the Dig, Excavator
Sources: Gildas Section 23, Anglo-Saxon Chronicle 519, Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Battle of Salisbury 552
Outcomes: Saxons Graves including lady with decorated brooch and amber bead, child, decorated iron pin, Bronze Age Inverted Urn with Cremation, Reconstructed Saxon Knife, Ring Ditches, Pond Barrow
On 24th June 2013 Mick Aston (age 66) died.