Quayside House, Mobile Diagnostic Units, Gloucester: Archaeological Watching Brief

The watching brief comprised the observation by a competent archaeologist of intrusive groundworks associated with the development. The observed works comprised the machine excavation of: " Foundation trenches (Trenches 1 to 4 inclusive) " Utilities trenches (Trenches 5, 8 and 9) " Drainage trench linking to an existing manhole (Trench 6) " SuDS drainage area (Trench 7) Between May and August 2023, Cotswold Archaeology carried out an archaeological watching brief during groundworks associated with redevelopment of a car parking area at Quayside House, Gloucester. The watching brief identified probable medieval structural remains in the north-western half of the site, comprising walls interpreted as forming part of a masonry causeway or bridge structure providing access across Gloucester Castle's inner defensive ditch. Evidence of the subsequent demolition and robbing of these walls was also recorded. Widespread evidence for later post-medieval cultivation soils, some of which may be associated with the 18th-century (and later) Castle Gardens, was also identified along with a small number of structural features associated with an early 20th-century engineering works that formerly occupied the site.