Archaeological Watching Brief at Yarlet School

Between July and October 2023 Network Archaeology undertook a watching brief during the construction of a new car park (Area 1a) and improvements to another (Area 2) at Yarlet School, Staffordshire (Centre: NGR 391320 329372). The watching brief comprised archaeological monitoring during all groundworks within the two areas followed by archaeological excavation and recording of any identified features. The Watching Brief was successful in identifying a small amount of archaeology within Area 1a, comprising a cobble spread with possible kerbing, an upstanding brick wall and a brick surface whilst identifying only two patches of bioturbation within Area 2. The wall and surfaces identified in Area 1a appeared to align with a building visible on the 1846 tithe map labelled as a "homestead and pleasure grounds" owned by Sarah Tunnicliffe and occupied by George Sydney. The absence of any plaster on either side of wall 1006 suggests that it was unlikely to have been part of a building, more likely it represented the remnant of a garden or boundary wall. In contrast, the brick surface, although un-mortared, formed a quite ornate surface. If this surface was associated with the structure visible on the tithe map, its apparent location, close to what appears to have been an entrance, suggests that it may have been part of an ornate path or porchway. Dating from these features suggest an 18th to 19th century date, although a 20th century engineering brick recovered from the vicinity of the brick surface was considered to be intrusive or indicative of a later repair. The cobbled surface was much rougher than the ornate brick surface and was likely an external surface or yard with a line of larger stones acting as kerbing. It is therefore possible that combined, the archaeology identified in Area 1a represented the remnants of landscape features associated with a 19th or earlier garden, perhaps related to the structures visible on the early-19th century tithe map. It is possible that these earlier structures were demolished to facilitate the construction of the new hall, which was constructed in 1870, becoming a school three years later.