Evaluation at Cote D Azur, 86 Weston Road, Bretforton, Worcestershire, WR11 7HW

trial trenching An archaeological evaluation was carried out during September 2025 at Cote D'Azur, 86 Weston Road, Bretforton, Worcestershire in advance of development of the site for two detached dwellings with associated parking. The HER showed that the site lies adjacent to a possible Roman road and Roman finds were discovered to the northwest in the 1930's. The site is located to the southeast of the Saxon village core and was likely historically part of the manor farmed by Evesham Abbey forming the outlying agricultural belt; this pattern of land use comprising principally arable likely continued following the Dissolution when the manor was sold to the tenants. There has been very little previous archaeological intervention within the area with most records being desk-based assessments, finds recovery or ongoing/unreported work. The investigation itself was one of two evaluations carried out recently within this area of the Weston Road, the other work was undertaken between nos. 86 and 88 Weston Road. The results of both this investigation and the neighbouring one were negative, the stratigraphic sequence of deposits points to an open rural environment, likely subjected to periodic cultivation and manuring as indicated by the thickness of the subsoil with little human activity other than that associated with agricultural practices; this hypothesis is supported by the lack of residual finds recovered from the excavations.