The archaeological watching brief comprised the monitoring of general ground reduction to the rear of the property where a portion of the raised garden was levelled to provide space for a patio, the excavation of strip footings and service trenches. A plan of the monitored area is shown on figure 3 in the report. All work was carried out according to the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) standards and according to the agreed Written Scheme of Investigation. A digital colour photographic record was maintained, some of which is reproduced in the report in Appendix 1. The fieldwork was undertaken by James Roberts and Peter Spencer. The watching brief revealed a general spread of 19th century material (107) across the garden which underlay the subsoil and sealed a 15th/16th century pit. It is likely that the spread represents the level of the original yard surface which has been subsequently buried by the importation of soil to form the present raised garden (distinguishable as a topsoil (100) and subsoil (101)). The single pit 103 that was sealed by the spread contained domestic rubbish and is likely to represent a rubbish pit located towards the rear of the plot facing the road. No other features were present within the monitored area and it is likely that a measure of truncation occurred across the site when Iris Cottage was built in the 19th century.
James Roberts (Mon,) studied this question.