An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Worcestershire Archaeology (WA) on 11 th March 2025 on land at Abbey Park, Pershore, Worcestershire (NGR SO 94668 45639). This comprised two evaluation trenches adjacent to the current playground within the southern area of the Site. The project was commissioned by Tim Lewis of Wychavon District Council (The Client), in advance of an application to install a zip line play area for which a planning application will be submitted to Wychavon District Council. Abbey Park extends across an area measuring approximately 7ha. and comprises parking, ecreational areas and Pershore Abbey itself. Abbey Park is situated within the former grounds of the Scheduled Monument of Pershore Abbey (NHLE 1005303), a medieval abbey which remains partially extant on the Site. Given the potential for finds, features or deposits of archaeological potential to emain preserved on the Site, the Archaeology and Planning Advisor at Malvern Hills and Wychavon District Council (the Curator) has requested a phase of evaluation trenching in order to determine the date, degree of preservation and significance of any archaeological remains. These works would be undertaken in accordance with paragraph 207 of the National Planning Policy framework (MHCLG 2025). The evaluation comprised the excavation of 2no. 8m x 1.8m trenches over the location of the zipline frame bases. Trench 1 was archaeologically negative, but Trench 2 contained a series of thick, superimposed waterborne deposits within a former water feature, still visible as a depression in the landscape. The trench was excavated to a depth of c.1.25m below present ground level, the lower 0.70m of which were humic, waterlogged deposits (204/205). Deposit 205, the lowest deposit in the sequence, produced ecofacts which were submitted for radiocarbon dating and returned a date range of 1440 to 1640 cal AD (Beta-747499). Reference to the historic mapping data also indicates that Trench 2 was sited over the location of the southerly of two fishponds situated to the west and southwest of the former Abbey church. Accordingly, the waterlogged deposits revealed in Trench 2 were considered likely to derive from the medieval fishpond during the latter portion of the Abbeys use as a monastery, the Abbeys conversion into a church during the dissolution of the monasteries in 1540 and the conversion of the lands formerly comprising the abbey precinct into private ownership. In addition, the environmental sampling also recovered ecofacts from a possible culinary herb, summer savory, and a single seed identifiable as a mullein species. Mullein species native to the British Isles include great mullein (V thapsus), a wild plant with a long history of medicinal use, and dark mullein (V nigra), a popular flower border plant. Hence, there is potential that the assemblage included culturally useful plants which may have been grown as kitchen or medicinal herbs and ornamental garden plants - consistent with the presence of herb gardens often found within monastic precincts during the medieval period. No other finds, features or deposits of archaeological significance were identified during the course of the evaluation. The methods adopted allow a high degree of confidence that the aims of the project have been achieved. Despite fairly significant inclement weather, conditions were suitable in the majority of the trenches to identify the presence or absence of archaeological features. It is considered that the nature, density and distribution of archaeological features provide an accurate characterisation of the development site as a whole.
Michael Nicholson (Wed,) studied this question.