What question did this study set out to answer?

To assess the archaeological significance of the area for the proposed new rear lobby at the Jewry Wall Museum.

May 22, 2026Open Access

An Archaeological Evaluation & Watching Brief at the Jewry Wall Museum, Leicester

Key Points

To assess the archaeological significance of the area for the proposed new rear lobby at the Jewry Wall Museum.
Conducted strip, map and sample evaluation through excavation to an archaeological level.
Identified features such as pits producing early Roman pottery and evidence of medieval activity.
Recorded structures and materials relating to both Roman and medieval periods.
Identified cut features and pits with Roman pottery from the late first to second century.
Revealed walls likely associated with the south portico of the bath house, with an associated opus signinum floor.
Found evidence of a modern well and noted the survival of stratigraphy indicating historical layers on site.

Abstract

An evaluation and a watching brief were carried out For the new rear lobby, assessment of the area took the form of a strip, map and sample evaluation, this consisting of excavation to an archaeological level of the footprint of the proposed new rear lobby. This identified that although truncation of archaeological levels has occurred, there was survival of cut features. A series of pits produced early Roman pottery of late first or second century date, and presumably indicating activity pre-dating the Roman baths. Animal bone and plant remains were recovered, and also a small amount of metalworking evidence. A robbed out wall-line was also observed, thought to be the line of the north wall of the north portico, and most likely robbed in the medieval period. Further medieval activity was also identified, with some pit-cutting. A design solution to the lobby build was decided upon due to the number of services in the footprint with the new lobby having a concrete raft foundation, rather than footings or being piled. Along the south edge of the site along the St. Nicholas Circle frontage further Roman material was recovered in the new ramp area. Two mortared walls were exposed, the lower courses of an east-west wall the upper courses of which are currently displayed, and a north-south wall running almost perpendicular to this. The east-west wall is thought to be part of the south portico of the bath house. The north-south wall had at least one tile course of four tiles depth, and is the west wall of the large channel that encompasses the south and east side of the baths. Within the internal angle of these two walls were surviving opus signinum floor levels. Stone foundations were also recorded below this level, probably from the partially robbed north-south channel wall. The floor corresponds well with levels seen in the 1930's excavations by Kathleen Kenyon, and this survival indicates that stratigraphy remains on site. A modern brick-built well was also recorded adjacent to the St Nicholas Circle frontage. Finds recovered during this work also consisted of material of a late 1st or early 2nd century AD date, comprising pottery and vessel glass.

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