The Search for Ewyas Harold Priory Introduction

Ewyas Harold Archaeology and History Group have successfully applied for a grant from the

Heritage Lottery Fund to carry out a community project which is described in the attached copy

of our application.

The budget is £40,000 (which includes VAT and a 10% contingency.) for which we are seeking

tenders is to plan, carryout and day to day manage the project.

The completion date for the full project including reports and publication of documents is

30 October 2011

History of the project

Previous archaeological work within the scheduled area of Ewyas Harold Castle and Priory

identified many features that might have been expected within this nationally significant

monument. However, as the survey progressed two issues of concern began to be raised.

1. The known site of the priory did not appear to have any archaeological evidence to

support its location within the field behind the butchers shop.

2. The site of the medieval village and layout of roads at that time might not match those

that exist today.

Whilst these issues lay outside of the project a considerable amount of effort was put into

considering the available documentary sources and testing these against existing knowledge of

the site and the features that subsequent survey had identified within it. The inner bailey

demonstrated the presence of buildings – some of apparently quite high status - much as would

be expected on a castle site of this significance. The outer bailey demonstrated some responses

that could well be related to the use of the site as a small area of settlement although it is more

likely that this evidence related to a later period in the castle’s history rather than the early

medieval village reputed to have occupied the site. There was however, very little indication of

substantial masonry structures as might be expected to be associated with the site of a priory.

The OS record card qualified the continued marking of the site as that of a priory on the basis of

the massive earthworks there – which ought to suggest massive masonry structures. The

topography referred to in the cartulary could not be made to easily fit the association of the

location of the priory with the site marked on the OS maps.

Thus arose the suggestion that the priory lay elsewhere – possibly even on the other side of the

Dulas Brook as many references appear to refer to land there.

In the initial work it was also postulated that St Michaels Church did not lie in Ewyas Harold

until c. 1200 AD. It is now suggested that it may be that St Michaels is actually on the site of St

James and Barts and that the Church at Dulas served the parish of Ewyas during the life of the

priory.

Aims of the project

To locate the site of the priory

To establish the date of foundation of St Michaels Church

To understand the history and development of the Dulas Valley including its past

environment

To involve the local community in unravelling their own past.

To Educate residents and visitors about the archaeology and history of the area

General

This is a community-led project that will use a wide range of sources and survey methods to try

to finally unravel the medieval history and topography of the area around Ewyas Harold. Local

people will need to be involved and proposals should indicate how this will be undertaken.

The scope of the project encompasses the following:

a. Community events – talks and open days

b. Education events for children

c. Documentary research

d. Obtaining access and consents to land for survey and excavation

e. Landscape survey

f. Topographic survey

g. Geophysical survey

h. Environmental survey

i. 2 Small scale excavations – one during August 2010 and the second in 2011

j. Specialist work relating to finds and environmental material

k. Production of a technical report

l. Production of exhibition material

m. Production of permanent signs

n. Production of a leaflet

o. Publication of a book

p. Deposition of any archive with the local museum

Other information

To assist organisations we enclose an outline map of the area indicating the rough extents that

will require coverage by the study, which should be used for guidance only. We also enclose a

copy of the book produced as part of the earlier study for background information.

Instructions for the presentations for bids for the project

Please provide cost break downs for each of the elements a – p above. It is up to individual

organisations to decide on the specific nature of the work required based on the aims and

objectives and information provided. Bidders would be expected to provide a summary of their

proposals under each element, including plans for involving the local community at all stages.

Costs need to distinguish between staff costs, expenses, equipment hire, equipment purchase and

hired in services.

A timeline proposal for the project should be submitted with the bid.

Excavation work would need to cover the cost of reinstatement and welfare facilities.

Bidders should also provide examples demonstrating their competence to undertake each of the

various elements and the experience of individuals that will be involved in the project.

Bids should be submitted to:

Mrs M Woodward, Castle Lands, Ewyas Harold, Hereford, HR2 0HH or via email to

mwoodward@redcross.org.uk

Questions relating to bids These should be sent by email to amanda@huntleyarchives.com or to the address shown in the

cover letter within seven days of the date of that letter. The answers to all questions will be

dispatched by email to all bidders following that date.

Contractual responsibility

It is the responsibility of those parties bidding for the work to ensure that all costs are covered

and fully itemised in their bid. Ewyas Harold Archaeology and History Group will not take any

responsibility for costs incurred over and above those stated in the bid and it will be the bidder’s

responsibility to complete the project and make good any work within the sums quoted. Bidders

will be deemed to be committed to the scope of the work as identified above and within their

submission.

Evidence of public liability insurance for a minimum of £5 million must be provided before any

work commences.