The evaluation involved the mechanical excavation under archaeological supervision of two 30m trial trenches. Where necessary, surfaces were hand cleaned for examination and recording and deposits observed were recorded on standard pro-forma recording sheets. Full trench descriptions are provided in the trench summary which is presented in Appendix 1 of the report. A digital colour photographic record was maintained, some of which is reproduced in Appendix 2, plates 1 - 9. All work was carried out according to the agreed Written Schemes of Investigation (Roberts 2024) and in accordance with the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) standards and guidance for archaeological evaluations. The evaluation revealed that the proposed development site had been previously stripped of any top- and sub-soils down to the natural geology with this deposit the only one present within the trenches. Following its exposure the natural geology had been left to weather with a thin covering of organic growth developing. It is likely that the site was stripped when the adjacent industrial units or car park were constructed. Three extremely truncated post-holes were identified in trench 2 which are likely of 19th or 20th century date based on the CBM recovered from their fills and may represent a fence line. No other features were present within the trenches. This may be due to the level of truncation which is likely to have removed any other archaeological features that may have been present.
Michael Blake (Mon,) studied this question.