strip, map and sample excavation Archaeological Strip, Map & Sample Excavation including monitoring and recording was carried out during August and September 2024 at 26 Cowl Street, Evesham, Worcestershire in advance of residential development of the site. The results of an earlier, albeit limited below ground investigation in 2007 showed that the east end of the site near the Cowl Street frontage was first developed-for residential use-during the C14 as evidenced by the remains of a stone structure believed to be garderobe or cess pit. There was some further evidence of post-medieval development. During the 2024 excavations, which comprised the footprint the proposed new building within the western half of the plot, the earlier medieval soil horizon, although surviving in places was largely truncated by successive post-medieval and modern pitting including various phases of modern building development. Truncating the medieval soil layer was the remains of a rectangular shaped masonry cellar. Initially divided into two rooms comprising a small rectangular north room and a larger square shaped south room, it was further sub-divided into three similarly sized rooms following the insertion of a brick wall, probably in the C19. There was no evidence of an internal stairway leading into the cellar rooms suggesting that access was from a trap door in the floor above. The evidence suggests the cellar was associated with a rectangular dwelling aligned north-south, the building itself may have been larger than the cellar footprint. The presence of limestone roof tiles within the mainly brick backfill following its abandonment may be related to the roof of the former dwelling. Although the cellar was undated, its masonry fabric and stratigraphic relationship with the medieval garden soil suggests a probable Late medieval-early post-medieval construction. The insertion of a later brick wall shows that the building was still occupied in the C19.
Samantha L Cook (Wed,) studied this question.