The Centre of Archaeology was commissioned in December 2022 by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust to undertake an archaeological desk-based assessment at Shakespeare's Birthplace, Stratford-upon- Avon (NGR: SP 20055 55113). The assessment comprised a search of the readily accessible documentary and historic cartographic sources from the Warwickshire Historic Environment Record, Shakespeare Birthplace trust archives and information obtained from online archaeological catalogues. The assessment has been prepared in accordance with government guidelines laid down in NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, 2021) Any future proposed development on the site sits within an area of high archaeological potential and nationally important listed buildings. Future groundworks across the proposed development area have the potential to expose hitherto unknown archaeological remains, most likely of medieval to post-medieval origin. The historic environment record registers a significant number of events, monuments and listed buildings within the immediate and wider study area. The largest representation in the archaeological and historical record is that of medieval and the post-medieval/ industrial period. The proposed development lies within the historic core and Conservation Area of Stratford-upon-Avon. The most local archaeological intervention, undertaken within the back-plot of Shakespeare's Birthplace found pottery suggesting occupation within the area from the 13th century onwards. Substantial structural evidence from a 16th or 17th century cellar was also identified within the area. Given the potential for hitherto unknown archaeological remains within the study area, further programmes of archaeological investigation are considered advisable during any future redevelopment.
William Mitchell (Sun,) studied this question.