Archaeological Watching Brief at Church of St Andrew, Firsby Road, Halton Holegate, Lincolnshire

This archaeological watching brief was undertaken on new drainage works to the north, north-east, south and south-east of the parish church and within the parish churchyard. This comprised the mechanical excavation of various new service trenches, catch water pits and soakaways. During the course of the excavation of a new drainage trench, a stone base was exposed at the north-eastern corner of the chancel. This was interpreted as underpinning works and part of the 19th century renovation of the church. To the north-east of the church, the excavation of a further new drainage trench had exposed the north-south orientated line of a brick wall foundation, with a posthole inserted in its midst. This was interpreted as part of a 19th century grave marker or brick vault with a wrought iron fence. It was overlain by tombs dated to 1855 and 1886. To the east of this, the brick base of an adjoining 19th century tomb was also exposed. To the south of the chancel, the greensand stone base of a further undated grave marker was exposed during the course of the excavation of a further drainage trench here. A moderate assemblage of disarticulated human bone fragments were recovered from a graveyard soil horizon for eventual reburial. The graveyard soil horizon also yielded finds of three brick fragments of late medieval to early post medieval date and of two tile fragments of medieval to late medieval date.