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The Studley Bypass Scheme proposed in February, 1991, was to run from the northern end of the Alcester Bypass, west of the A435, which it rejoined at Gorcott Hill.
Much controversy was generated by this proposal, and at the time and money spent upon the ensuing Public Inquiry of that year seems, now, to have been wasted, for the subsequent relegation to a Category 2 project reduced the priority of the Scheme, and for the foreseeable future put back the Inspector's recommendation to proceed.
But the denial of the generally-held local view that a bypass was (is?) desperately needed has to some extent bas been tempered by the 'spin-off' that resulted From investigations into the effects of the Scheme upon archaeological sites along its route: traffic considerations apart, the value to the local historian bas been enormous.
The northern end of the Lower Arrow Valley, an area of particular interest to the members or The Alcester and District Local History Society, has long exercised the minds of researchers into its history. Amateur and professional alike, they have explored, and reported upon many aspects or its life in earlier times. Of great benefit to the more enquiring of our members has been the relatively close proximity of our County Records Office, in Warwck, where, among a huge collection of documents, maps and publications of all kinds, may be seen the achievements of these researchers, a significant proportion of which results from work undertaken by our 'Society.
Visitors find indexes, catalogues, files, book-lined shelves; a host of aids which enable its records to be consulted: and an always helpful, if over-worked Staff to give assistance and direction. Time to study is very necessary, and a researcher in a hurry is likely to ho disappointed: how often must it have been wished that an interest in local history could be satisfied by a single volume?
This has been brought a little nearer by the efforts of the Field Archaeology Section of the Warwickshire Museum, for as part of the preparatory work, the Section carried out an assessment of the impact of the road proposals on sites along the route. The survey involved a desk-top study or a 1 km wide corridor, and a detailed field study within a narrower, 300 m wide corridor, both centred on the road hue. This work identified a number of archaeological sites affected by the road.
The Museum's published report includes details of the methods of assessment employed the historical and archaeological background, sites affected by the road, and the sources consulted. Beginning with the statement that early human activity is little evidenced along the road corridor together with comment upon settlements such as Coughton, Alcester and Studley, in mediaeval and post-mediaeval times the section on historical and archaeological background contains a wealth of detail about land use, boundaries, occupiers and their occupations, manors, meadows, mills and much more. The report contains, also, a list of archaeological sites affected by the road, their locations, identified by map references, and discusses them individually.
An appendix, which lists sources consulted in the study, is extensive, and includes Tithe Awards, Victoria County History, Dugdale, estate maps; publications by Englisb Heritage, Dr. Della Hooke, and Alcester and District Local History Society: distinguished company, indeed. Innumerable aerial photographs of the area exist, and those which were examined are listed.
Information on sites and monuments within the 1 km corridor is presented, which includes descriptions of physical features noted upon inspection. Fields within the 300 m corridor are named, and their geology, use and location are detailed.
Examples described and detailed in the report include sites as diverse as the Alcester-Feckenham Tumpike Road, Coughton Deer Park, Studley Brickworks, Griffin Inn Needleworks, Ryknild Street, Sambourne Hall, The Evesham and Redditch Railway, and a mediaeval rabbit Warren.
Intended to record and report upon the impact on our heritage -(evidence of the past. . . the inheritance of present-day society -Collins, third edition 199l) - the document undoubtedly succeeds. However, it has another, and unintended success: in one eminently readable volume, and with source references, it provides the local historian with a concise, precise, potted history of a corridor of 'our' valley. It does indeed appeal to the historian 'in a hurry', but the interest it enthuses in the reader must certainly lead to a deeper and more leisurely search for our local past.