Cura-Terrae was commissioned by Atkins Realis UK (hereafter 'the Client') to conduct a scheme of archaeological monitoring prior to repair works in the graveyard of St Giles Church, Matlock, Derbyshire. The scope of works included three hand excavated test-pits aimed to investigate the foundations of a post-medieval boundary wall, as well as three launch pits prior to the auger drilling of boreholes. The archaeological monitoring of works at the Site demonstrated low to no potential for archaeological remains (to 1.2m depth) within a 2m vicinity of the retaining wall, most likely due to the sparsity of burials in this area of the graveyard due its location at the furthest point in a southeast direction from the church. The below-ground deposits, as ordered in tabular format above, demonstrate the stratigraphic sequence of mixed clay infill, made-ground deposits of chipped stone/crushed gravel and overlying topsoil present across all excavated areas, with little variation. It is presumed that these accumulations of made ground were created to reinforce the construction of the post-medieval wall and bolster the ground level of the graveyard to what it is today. Despite the negative findings, if additional works were to take place within the investigated area, subsequent measures and monitoring may have to take place to avoid disturbing potential burials. The nearest headstones are ~3m from the boundary (which itself stands ~3m high), and if future excavation were to restructure the wall by rebuilding it at an angle away from vertical, there would be moderate to high potential for the disruption of human remains. No finds or samples were recovered from the work and the site archive is solely digital, consisting of photographs and context records.
Grace Sullivan (Wed,) studied this question.