The evaluation involved the mechanical excavation under archaeological supervision of one 13m x 1.90m trial trench targeted on the footprint of the proposed development area. Where necessary, surfaces were hand cleaned for examination and recording and deposits observed were recorded on standard pro-forma recording sheets. Full context descriptions are provided in the trench summary which is presented in Appendix 1 of the report. A digital colour photographic record was also maintained, some of which is reproduced in the report as plates 1-4 Appendix 2. All work was carried out by James Roberts and Michael Blake according to the agreed Written Scheme of Investigation and in accordance with the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) standards and guidance for archaeological evaluations. Trench 1 was excavated to a length of 13m. The north end was sondaged to prove the natural (108). The upper most context was a concrete yard surface (101), this overlay a rubble bedding layer (102) which in turn sealed (103), a mid orangey-brown friable silty-sand. Underlying this was a layer of pea gravel (104) which overlaid a blue plastic membrane (105). The membrane sealed a former topsoil (106) which overlay a subsoil (107) which in turn sealed the natural geology (108). A brick and breeze block wall was exposed within the southern half of the trench orientated north to south with an east to west return that butted up to curved brick steps (plate 3). The interior of the wall had a thick concrete floor and to the east a rough exterior concrete surface was exposed overlying rubble made ground (113). This structure sat on a modern concrete ring beam foundation. The evaluation revealed severe truncation down to natural in the southern 7m of the trench from construction of an outbuilding in the former pub garden. The topography of the site originally sloped down to the north. The ground had clearly been built up sometime in the later 20th century, presumably to provide a level pub garden. The former topsoil was preserved below this modern made ground. No archaeological features were present within the evaluation trench.
Michael Blake (Mon,) studied this question.