Archaeological Watching Brief Report, 26 Chester Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 1HG

The archaeological watching brief comprised the monitoring of the excavation for strip footings for the rear extension of the property. A plan of the monitored area is shown on figure 2 of the report. All work was carried out according to the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) standards, and according to the agreed Written Scheme of Investigation. A digital colour photographic record was maintained, some of which is reproduced in the report as plates 1-2, Appendix 1. The fieldwork was undertaken by Michael Blake. The strip footings measured 0.65m deep and up to 0.90m wide. The monitoring revealed a simple stratigraphy of (101), a modern concrete path and yard surface which was up to 0.05m thick and (102), an abutting brick laid yard surface to the west that was 0.08m thick. These both overlay a dark blackish-brown friable/soft silty-sand with occasional sub-angular limestone (103) that was greater than 0.65m deep, extent unseen. This layer contained modern brick and tile, blue/white pottery sherds and a clay pipe stem. The watching brief revealed a single deposit (103) underlying the modern path and yard surfaces (101) and (102). This deposit contained late 19th and 20th century material throughout and no earlier deposits were encountered. The project objectives were met in full with a high confidence rating for the results.