Watching Brief at The Limes, Main Street, Congerstone

All work followed the procedures set out in the approved Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) for the project (Reeds 2022). All work was carried out in accordance with the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) Standard and Guidance for an Archaeological Watching Brief (updated 2020) and adhered to their Code of Conduct (updated 2021). The accession number X.A.15.2022 was used to identify all records and artefacts. The watching brief involved the observation during groundworks by an experienced professional archaeologist. Excavation was carried out by the client's contractor with a machine appropriate for the work. The machine did not track over any surfaces until the archaeologist had inspected and cleared the area. Any archaeological deposits revealed were investigated and recorded using standard ULAS procedures. Sufficient proportions of any archaeological features or deposits were hand excavated in order to provide the stratigraphic and chronological sequence of deposits. A record of the full extent in plan of all archaeological deposits encountered were made using an appropriate system related to the OS grid. Measured drawings of all archaeological features were prepared and tied into the overall site plan. Relevant heights will be taken as appropriate and the OD height calculated. This report details the results of an archaeological watching brief carried out by University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS) at The Limes, Main Street, Congerstone. The work was undertaken in April and May 2022 on behalf of Craig Vincent and Graham Hinds in advance of the construction of two dwellings located on the northern edge of Congerstone. The Watching Brief involved the stripping of topsoil within the building footprints and the excavation of footings. The northern building contained two north-west to south-east orientated ditches and a gully. A spread of stones was found covering one of these and another was found in the driveway to the west. Medieval pottery dating to the 12th-14th centuries was found in one of the ditches and both of the stone layers. The southern building footprint contained several shallow gullies and pits. Another layer of stones was found along the eastern edge of the area. One gully was modern however medieval pottery dated 12th-14th century was found in many of the features. The shallow gullies and ditches may relate to field boundaries and farming occurring during the medieval period. Congerstone manor is known to have used the Open Field System of farming and the remains may be the first recorded evidence of the field boundaries and medieval agriculture in this part of the estate.