Llanthony Wharf, Gloucester Quays, Gloucester: Archaeological Evaluation (Phase 4)

The fieldwork comprised the excavation of two trenches (B6 and B7), in the locations shown on Figure 2. Trench B7 was 30m long and 2m wide. Trench B6 was initially T-shaped and measured a total of 30m in length and 2m in width however, due to the nature of the remains exposed within the trench, it was decided by Scott Wilson and Jonathan Smith, Historic Environment Manager, Gloucester City Council and Robert Iles, Inspector of Ancient Monuments, English Heritage, to extend the investigation to encompass an measuring c. 32m in length and 15m in width in order to determine the extent, character and date of remains and to allow formulation of appropriate mitigation measures for the proposed construction on the site; this covered the area of the earlier evaluation trench B4 also, where some structural remains had previously been found. Within this area, the site was stripped, cleaned and visible remains mapped. Only very limited intrusive excavation was carried out to determine key relationships between structural remains if possible. Trenches were set out on OS National Grid (NGR) co-ordinates using Leica GPS and surveyed in accordance with CA Technical Manual 4 Survey Manual. An archaeological evaluation was undertaken by Cotswold Archaeology between February and April 2008 on land at Llanthony Wharf, Gloucester Quays, Gloucester. Two trenches were excavated. Significant structural remains were exposed, including a number of walls and surfaces, dating from the medieval to the post-medieval/modern periods. The earliest remains may be associated with a southern gatehouse to Llanthony Secunda Priory and with ranges of buildings along the south and eastern sides of the Inner Court of the priory precinct and the later ones to redevelopment of the site following the Dissolution.