Archaeological Monitoring and Recording (Watching Brief) to the rear of 64-66 Market Place, Warwick, Warwickshire (SP 28047 64881)

This report details the results of archaeological monitoring and recording (a watching brief) carried out by University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS) to the rear of 64-66 Market Place, Warwick, Warwickshire (SP 28047 64881). The work was undertaken on 17/03/2025 on behalf of Cobalt Developments (Alveston) Ltd in advance of the construction of a new staircase to provide access to an existing flat. A sub-rectangular trench was excavated measuring approximately 2.5m x 2.5m with a narrower section to the north-east. The sequence consisted of made ground and ironstone rubble over mixed soil and rubble. A small area of concrete was encountered used as support for the corner of the building. At the base of the trench a narrow stone wall was encountered and a possible brick floor. No other archaeological features or finds were discovered during the work. The physical archive will be deposited with Warwickshire Museums under the accession number T2100. The digital archive will be deposited with the Archaeological Data Service (ADS). The work at Market Street had the potential for archaeology from several periods, although the area examined was very small. The trench observed mainly consisted of made ground, mainly rubble over loose soils and rubble. A small section of narrow (0.20m) undated walling was found running parallel to the modern brick wall at the rear of the building at Market Street, which had been strengthened on the corner with a dump of concrete. The wall is probably a retaining wall for an outbuilding; a small section of brickwork was seen in the west facing section, which may have been part of an interior floor. The ceramic pipe from the building suggests that the stone wall and brick floor may have been a toilet or some small utility. It was not possible to date the wall or floor as no dating evidence was found. The early maps of the site, from the 1880s to the 1970s show small outbuildings to the rear of the modern building and so the possible outbuilding could plausibly be of any period, but the brick would appear modern, with the stone wall maybe somewhat older.