Analytical Buildings Record (level 3), Watching Brief at 123 Pensax, Abberley, Worcestershire

Prior to fieldwork, a search of historic assets within 1km of the site was provided by Worcestershire Historic Environment Record. Primary sources were consulted at Worcestershire Archives at The Hive in Worcester and online sources including The Genealogist.co.uk and the British Newspaper Archive were also accessed. Recording was undertaken using pro-forma recording sheets and photographs were taken with a Nikon D3200 SLR camera . Additional aerial images were taken with a Mavic Mini 2 UAV. Excavation of the foundation trenches was undertaken using a mechanical excavator under archaeological supervision. Context recording was undertaken using context sheets and other pro-forma recording sheets and photographs were taken with a Nikon D3200 SLR camera. No. 123 Pensax is a brick-built cottage of one storey with an attic. The cottage is attached to No 124 and both appear to have been built as part of a hamlet of cottages and other buildings including a blacksmith's shop to service the Pensax Court estate. The occupants of No. 123 during the earlier part of the 19th century appeared to be agricultural labourers. In the mid-19th century, following the sale of the estate, a programme of renovations and additions took place, including a substantial chimney and range in the centre of the two cottages. At the same time a small walled enclosure may have been built to create a cottage garden to the front of the building. From then until the later 19th century the occupants of both cottages appeared to be a master blacksmith and his son and both of their families. Archaeological monitoring of the excavations of foundation trenches found that the area had been disturbed during concrete underpinning of the cottage. The remains of a ground surface comprising impacted earth survived in most places excavated but was best defined to the south-east of the cottage. Sherds of modern ceramic were recovered from this surface.