Acton Court

Book excerpt: In 1535 Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn visited Acton Court in southern Gloucestershire, the home of the favoured courtier Nicholas Poyntz. Built in the 13th century, on an older structure, by the Acton family, the moated manor was transformed by Nicholas and his father into the grand Tudor mansion that we can see large sections of today. This illustrated volume presents the results of `above- and below-ground archaeology'. The demolished parts of the house were excavated while the unique 16th-century features inside the house, such as painted friezes, are studied in detail. It was also during the excavation that the moat was rediscovered. With each section contributed by a specialist, the volume discusses the history and restoration of the house, before examining in detail the archaeological and structural remnants for each phase and part of the house, focusing on the evidence from the time of Henry's visit. Specialist reports also examine the finds including architectural fragments (including a rare sundial from the early 16th century), building material, woodwork, decorative plaster, graffiti (including sketches of ships), pottery, glass, coins, dress accessories, organic and animal remains, and longbows.