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Hentland, a Welsh name meaning
the old church, is believed to have been the site of a
Christian church before the arrival of the English in the
area. However, an
excavation here during weekends in Summer 1970 and 1971
failed to find any evidence of activity pre-dating the
Norman Conquest.
Remains of buildings of several periods were excavated.
The earliest were wooden building represented by
post-holes. This phase had been deliberately buried by a
layer of soil before the construction of a stone building
of the 13th century. This building which was only
partially within the excavated area and was represented by
one wall.
There was also a 15th-l6th century building, the end wall
of which remained in situ. This was replaced by a 17th
century rectangular house, which was probably the manor
referred to in documentary records.
The results of these excavations were published in the
Herefordshire-based 'Transactions of the Woolhope
Naturalists Field Club' and a note appeared in the
prestigious 'Medieval
Archaeology'.
The excavations were conducted by the
Archenfield Excavation Group, who carried out much
excellent work in the area in the 1960s and 70s. Further
work on the site was done by Jane Wyatt to whom we are
extremely grateful for access to her notes, plans and
photographs.
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