The watching brief involved the observation of the excavation of post holes for the scheme by an experienced professional archaeologist. Excavation was carried out by the client's contractor, employing a 1.5T mini digger, fitted with a 900mm ditching bucket and rubber caterpillar tracks. Spoil was removed from the excavation by trailer. The archaeological monitoring of groundworks associated with the provision of a gate and associated fencing at Ashby de la Zouch castle provided likely indications of the 16th century garden wall, the western line of which is known to have run north-south through the site. Whilst the restricted working conditions mitigated against further investigation, it would appear that the brick and masonry rubble deposits encountered represent either the base of a robber trench targeting the wall, or represent demolition spreads associated with the demolition of the wall in the post medieval period. The latter would appear more likely due to the absence of a construction trench cut and the presence of brick typologically matching that visible in the remaining standing wall circuit and the southwest corner tower.
Roger Kipling (Sat,) studied this question.