ABSTRACT
The Cistercian Abbey of St Mary at Bordesley enjoyed 400 years of active life from 1138 to 1538; aspects of its buildings, both religious and secular, and technology have been explored in recent excavations, as have the prehistoric, Roman and other pre-monastic exploitation of the Arrow valley. Three phases of landscape may be discerned: pre-monastic, monastic and post-Dissolution. The industrial site includes a mill, head-race, wheel-pit and tail-race, dated to the late 12th century. Water-logging ensured very good preservation of wood, leather and metal. The first mill was constructed in the late 12th century and in the area of the leak evidence was found for the clearance of the ground prior to building operations. The timbers forming the sluice gates and bank reverting of the head-race appear to have been part of the original mill and remained unchanged throughout the time the site was occupied.
