Land off Rhode Lane, Bridgewater, Somerset: Archaeological Evaluation

The evaluation fieldwork comprised the excavation of 24 trenches each measuring 50m in length by 1.8m in width, in the locations shown on the attached plan. The trenches were located to test geophysical anomalies and to provide a representative sample of the remainder of the site. During the course of the evaluation, Trenches 1 and 15 were shortened by 1m and Trench 20 was relocated with the approval of Steve Memebry, to avoid damaging boreholes. In November 2025, Cotswold Archaeology carried out an archaeological evaluation at Land off Rhode Lane, Bridgwater, Somerset. A total of 24 trenches were excavated. The evaluation has identified a small number of archaeological features across the site. A posthole identified in the north-eastern part of the site, contained a single, abraded sherd of pottery broadly dated to the prehistoric period. Two postholes identified in the central part of the site, contained three small sherds of medieval ware, date from the 11th to 15th century. Ten undated postholes were recorded within the same trench, which may also be of medieval date. A number of post-medieval and modern features were recorded across the site including a 19th-century quarry pit and former boundary ditches that correspond with boundary ditches depicted on the 1846 Tithe map of Bridgwater parish.