Archaeological watching brief at 35, Diglis Road, Worcester

A Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) was prepared by Worcestershire Archaeology (WA 2025). Fieldwork was undertaken between 28 and 30 April 2025. Three foundations trenches and some ground reduction were monitored. The location of the trenches is indicated in Figure 2. Deposits considered not to be significant were removed using a 360� tracked excavator, employing a toothless bucket. Subsequent excavation was undertaken by hand. Clean surfaces were inspected and selected deposits were excavated to retrieve artefactual material and environmental samples, as well as to determine their nature. Deposits were recorded according to standard Worcestershire Archaeology practice (WA 2012) and trench and feature locations were surveyed using a GNSS device with an accuracy limit set at <0.04m. On completion of excavation, trenches were reinstated by replacing the excavated material. All fieldwork records were checked and cross-referenced. Analysis was undertaken through a combination of structural and artefactual evidence, allied to the information derived from other sources. The project archive is currently held at the offices of Worcestershire Archaeology. Subject to the agreement of the landowner it is anticipated that it will be deposited at Worcester City Museum. This watching brief on the footings for a single residential property identified 19th century terracing relating to an adjacent house, along with a large ditch of late medieval to early post-medieval date. This ditch may be associated with the siege lines of the Parliamentarian forces excavated during the Civil War, although the evidence is not conclusive. No evidence for earlier activity was encountered on the site. The methods adopted allow a high degree of confidence that the aims of the project have been achieved. Conditions were suitable in all of the trenches to identify the presence or absence of archaeological features. It is considered that the nature, density and distribution of archaeological features provides an accurate characterisation of the development site as a whole.