42 Foregate Street, Worcester: Archaeological Evaluation

trial trenching Archaeological evaluation was carried out at 42 Foregate Street, Worcester, WR1 1EE during July 2023 in connection with a planning application for a proposed erection of two storey building to provide four residential apartments alongside associated amenity space, refuse and cycle storage to the rear of 42 Foregate Street. The investigation confirmed the presence of Roman occupation deposits within the area of the proposed development. These comprised a series of post holes indicating the probable location of a former timber-framed building. The nature of the building is unclear, but the paucity of finds and the lack of any surviving internal floor surfaces would suggest a more rudimentary function, perhaps agricultural. There was little evidence of medieval activity, although the site lies close to the former Civil war defences and within the area that was likely subjected to significant clearance during this period. A brick structure of probable C18 or early C19 date was recorded at the south end of the trench that is not shown on the historic mapping, overlying this is a floor surface associated with a probable cart shed shown on the OS 1886. Some modern pitting was also observed along one edge of the trench.