Chapel Hill Solar Farm, Bastonford, Malvern, Worcestershire: Archaeological Evaluation

The evaluation fieldwork comprised the excavation of 259no. trenches (248 of which measured 50m in length and 1.8m in width, 10 of which measured 25m in length and 1.8m in width and one of which measured 15m in length and 1.8m in width). It was originally intended to excavate 274no. trenches, representing a 2% sample of the development area, as indicated in the approved WSI (CA 2024). However, Trenches 93-104 in Parcel A, and Trenches 200-202 in Parcel B3 could not be accessed during the current works and therefore remained unexcavated. Trench 231 in Parcel B3, also remained unexcavated as it was considered unsafe to excavate due to the locally steep topography, with the approval of Mr. Smyth. An additional trench, measuring 15m in length and 1.8m, was excavated in Parcel A (Trench 12A) at the request of Mr. Smyth to further investigate a ditch identified in Trench 12; it was subsequently agreed that Trenches 76 and 91 were reduced in length to compensate for this additional trench. Trenches 157 and 158 were split to avoid a public footpath that crossed the site. Trench 14 was extended to further investigate an anomaly (4000) identified by the preceding geophysical survey at the request of Mr. Smyth. The trenches were located to test geophysical anomalies and to provide a representative sample of the remainder of the site. In August, September and October 2024, Cotswold Archaeology carried out an archaeological evaluation of land at Chapel Hill Solar Farm, Bastonford, Malvern, Worcestershire. A total of 259 trenches were excavated. Two ditches identified in a trench excavated in the south-eastern part of Parcel B2 contained pottery of Late Iron Age to 1st-century AD date and correlate closely to a circular anomaly identified by the preceding geophysical survey. The function of this anomaly remains unclear; however it may represent part of a foundation trench or drip gully for a circular or semi-circular structure. A number of further, although artefactually undated, ditches and gullies were identified in close proximity to these ditches and it remains possible that they represent further prehistoric activity in this part of the site. A ditch identified in a trench excavated at the northern boundary of Parcel B2 contained pottery of Late Prehistoric to 2nd-century AD date and an undated pit also identified in the trench may be at least broadly contemporary. A cremation burial and a number of ditches and gullies containing pottery of a Roman date were identified in trenches excavated in the north-western part of Parcel B1. The exact function of these features remains unclear; however the recovery of significant quantities of pottery from the fills of some of these features suggests that they are located in relatively close proximity to an area of settlement. A substantial quantity of pottery of 2nd-century AD date, along with three fragments of imbrex (Roman roof tile), was recovered from the fill of a ditch identified in a trench excavated in the north-eastern part of Parcel A. No further material or features of a Roman date was identified in trenches excavated in this part of the site Pottery of a broad Roman date was recovered from the fills of two pits of indeterminate function identified in a trench excavated in the south-western part of Parcel A. A pit identified in a trench excavated in the southern part of Parcel B3, contained a single sherd of pottery of a medieval (13th to 16th-century date). The ploughed out remains of medieval/post-medieval furrows were identified in a number of trenches excavated in the south-eastern and central parts of Parcel B3. Glass of a 17th to 18th-century date were recovered from a fill of a ditch identified in a trench located in the north-eastern part of Parcel B3. The function of this ditch remains unclear although it is considered most likely to relate to land management, drainage or division.