Chapel, Hidcote Manor Gardens, Hidcote Bartrim, Gloucestershire:Archaeological Watching Brief

The fieldwork followed the methodology set out within the WSI (CA 2017). An archaeologist was present during intrusive groundworks, comprising of the removal of deposits associated with the former stables within the chapel, to formation depth of the new chapel floor (c.184.28m AOD at the northern end of chapel and c.184.2m AOD at the southern end). Geo-textile was then placed on unexcavated deposits before the sub-base for the new floor was laid. An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology during groundworks associated with the installation of new ceilings, floor and wall finishes to the Chapel building at Hidcote Manor Gardens, Hidcote Bartrim, Gloucestershire. Three stone surfaces pre-dating the walls of the extant chapel were identified in the centre of the building. Subsequently a structure consisting of the north-eastern, south-eastern and south-western walls of the extant chapel was constructed. This building may have had timber floors. At some point the structure became a four box stable, which was later, between 1907 and 1939, converted by Lawrence Johnston into a two box stable with a blue engineering brick floor. Johnston later converted the stable into a chapel by the insertion of windows, a door and roof trusses salvaged from another church or chapel between 1930 and 1939. At the same time the current north-western wall of the building was added.