LEICESTER City of Leicester 3/16 (E.62.A010) SK 5853 0433 12 NEW ST., CASTLE WARD, LEICESTER Cottage to the Rear of 12 New St., Castle Ward, Leicester - A Photographic Survey and Archaeological Watching Brief Report No. : 2001-152 Derrick, M & Finn, N Leicester : University of Leicester Archaeological Services, 2001, 17pp, pls, figs, tabs, refs A photographic survey and archaeological watching brief were undertaken. The watching brief involved the excavation of a foundation trench intended for a replacement wall to the rear of 12, New Street. The site was located adjacent to the southern boundary of the Roman and medieval defences and would have been enclosed within the grounds of the Grey Friars during the medieval period. Evidence for stone built footings comprising a cellar was observed directly below the existing building which dated to the late-18th early 19th century. [Au(abr)] Archaeological periods represented: PM, UD 3/17 (E.62.A014) SK 5830 0485 ALL SAINTS CHURCHYARD, HIGHCROSS STREET An Archaeological Watching Brief During Landscaping and Environmental Improvements at All Saints Churchyard, Highcross Street, Leicester Report No. : 2001/124 Warren, S Leicester : University of Leicester Archaeological Services, 2001, 7pp, figs, tabs, refs An archaeological watching brief was undertaken during landscaping and access improvements. Medieval pottery and a stone coffin fragment were discovered suggesting a possible high status site. [Au(abr)] Archaeological periods represented: MD, RO, UD 3/18 (E.62.A002) SK 5810 0456 BLACKFRIARS BAKERY, BLACKFRIARS STREET, LEICESTER An Archaeological Watching Brief of Geotechnical Trial Pits at Blackfriars Bakery, Blackfriars Street, Leicester Meek, J Leicester : University of Leicester Archaeological Services, 2001, 10pp, figs, tabs, refs An archaeological watching brief during the excavation of two geotechnical trial pits was undertaken. Within trial pit 1, medieval garden soils were revealed at a depth of between 0.52-1.10m beneath the present ground surface and in trial pit 2 between 0.80m and 1.45m depth. These overlay stratified archaeological remains of Roman date, which could not be characterised due to the nature of the works. The depths of Roman deposits were between 1.10 and 2.95m below the present ground surface in trial pit 1 and between 1.45-2.45m in trial pit 2. These Roman deposits lay on top of undisturbed natural ground. [Au(abr)] 1
Archaeological periods represented: MD, PM, RO 3/19 (E.62.A011) SK 6150 0120 CENTRAL RING ROAD PHASE 2, LEICESTER Leicester, Central Ring Road Phase 2. Archaeological Watching Brief Northamptonshire Archaeology Northampton : Northamptonshire Archaeology, 2001, 5pp, figs Work undertaken by: Northamptonshire Archaeology A watching brief was maintained during groundworks to excavate tree planting pits in the St. Margaret's Way area, which lay within the confines of the early medieval suburbs around St Margaret's Church. No archaeological deposits were exposed, possibly due to the shallow depth of the excavated tree pits. The majority of the material encountered was recent make-up layers for the construction of the central ring road. The natural stratigraphy was not reached. [Au(abr)] Archaeological periods represented: MO, PM 3/20 (E.62.A006) SK 6237 0384 GENERAL HOSPITAL, LEICESTER An Archaeological Watching Brief at the General Hospital, Leicester Report No. : 2001/56 Gnanaratnam, A Leicester : University of Leicester Archaeological Services, 2001, 8pp, figs, refs An archaeological watching brief was undertaken on the construction of a temporary overflow car park and link road. Across half of the area investigated, the formation depth was too shallow to expose the natural substratum. Where it was reached, towards the south, no archaeological features were observed other than furrows showing the presence of medieval ridge and furrow cultivation on the site, which had since been ploughed out or otherwise truncated. [Au(abr)] Archaeological periods represented: MD, PR 3/21 (E.62.A003) SK 5857 0480 LAND ADJACENT TO THE GREAT MEETING UNITARIAN CHAPEL, LEICESTER A Watching Brief and Salvage Excavation on Land Adjacent to the Great Meeting Unitarian Chapel, Leicester Report No. : 2002/022 Jarvis, W Leicester : University of Leicester Archaeological Services, 2002, 28pp, figs, tabs, refs A watching brief and salvage excavation were undertaken in advance of the construction of a link building and stairwell access into the Great Meeting School Rooms. Excavation identified surviving stratigraphy and a small amount of in situ walling of Roman date, as well as evidence for robbing of masonry and pit cutting in the medieval period. The evidence indicated the former presence of a relatively substantial Roman building on site. [Au(abr)] Archaeological periods represented: EM, IA, MD, PM, RO, UD 2
3/22 (E.62.A008) SK 5896 0476 LAND AT CLARENCE STREET, LEICESTER Land at Clarence Street, Leicester. Leicestershire. Archaeological Monitoring and Recording & Archaeological Excavation Report No. : 991 O'Brien, L & Crank, N Hertford : Hertfordshire Archaeological Trust, 2001, 42pp, figs, tabs, refs Work undertaken by: Hertfordshire Archaeological Trust Archaeological monitoring and recording, and excavation was undertaken prior to the proposed extension which included a car park with basement and an access ramp. The works represented the final phase of archaeological investigation of a Roman cemetery, the bulk of which had been excavated by HAT in May/June 2001. The earlier work had revealed the remains of a Roman cemetery comprising 62 inhumations. Also excavated were a number of earlier Roman features including several substantial pits. The cemetery was seen to partially extend beyond the then accessible part of the development site. As a result, the northern and western fringes of the initial excavation were subject to archaeological monitoring and recording during enabling works for the proposed development. This watching brief and subsequent archaeological excavation revealed a further 33 Roman graves and one earlier pit. These inhumations, like those found previously, were unaccompanied, aligned east-west and laid out in rows. [Au(abr)] Archaeological periods represented: MO, RO, UD 3/23 (E.62.A009) SK 5800 0500 LEICESTER ABBEY, ABBEY PARK, ABBEY WARD, LEICESTER An Archaeological Watching Brief at Leicester Abbey, Abbey Park, Abbey Ward, Leicester (1st Season) Report No. : 2002-103 Derrick, M Leicester : University of Leicester Archaeological Services, 2002, 30pp, figs, tabs, refs An archaeological watching brief was undertaken during reconstruction work on the 1930s foundation plan. The site of Leicester Abbey was situated to the north-west of the city outside of the medieval town defences. The Abbey was founded in 1143 and survived until the Dissolution whereupon it fell into disrepair and was demolished. Archaeological fieldwork was carried out in the 19th and 20th centuries revealing traces of the original abbey walls. The fragments of wall were used to reconstruct a ground plan which was subsequently rebuilt as a series of low footings in the 1930s under the auspices of W.K. Bedingfield. Weathering processes and stone robbing had taken their toll on the reconstructed wall and it was decided to partially demolish and reconsolidate the remaining footings. This stage of work took place along the external wall of Lady Chapel and the north transept; pieces of decorated medieval floor tile, human bone and architectural fragments were recovered from the rubble core of the wall. Remains of the original wall plan and possible robber trenches were also encountered. [Au(abr)] Archaeological periods represented: MD, UD 3/24 (E.62.A004) SK 5853 0341 LOWER BROWN STREET, LEICESTER An Archaeological Watching Brief in Advance of the Construction of Flats at Lower Brown Street, Leicester Report No. : 2001/64 Derrick, M Leicester : University of Leicester Archaeological Services, 2001, 6pp, figs, refs 3
An archaeological watching brief was undertaken during the excavation of foundations. The site was positioned just outside of the Roman town defences of Leicester and lay in an area where there was a concentration of Roman burials and Saxon and medieval remains. The development area was covered by a series of layers which contained pottery of a 19th century date; these layers probably related to the construction of the Ivy Thread Mills building which previously occupied the site. A 19th century well was observed and recorded, one sherd of 13th century green glaze pottery and 4 sherds of postmedieval pancheon ware were recovered. [Au(abr)] Archaeological periods represented: MD, PM 3/25 (E.62.A012) SK 5843 0391 MILL LANE, LEICESTER Mill lane, Leicester: Evaluation and Limited Excavation of an Area to the South of the Historic Town Report No. : 2002-026 Finn, N Leicester : University of Leicester Archaeological Services, 2001, 55pp, figs, tabs, refs Archaeological evaluation prior to the redevelopment of the site, located remains of Roman, medieval and post-medieval date, in addition to residual Iron Age and Anglo-Saxon finds. Roman remains included ditches, pits and a possible grave. Of medieval date were a number of possible gravel quarry pits. Post-medieval remains included a massive mid 17th century ditch, part of the town defences at the time of the English Civil War. All of these remains were truncated to some degree by a series of large gravel quarry pits of late 17th-early 18th century date. Based on the results of the evaluation, a mitigation strategy for the management of the archaeological remains was agreed, which included some further evaluation and full excavation of a sample area of the site. [Au(abr)] Archaeological periods represented:, IA, MD, MO, PM, RO, UD 3/26 (E.62.A015) SK 5820 0495 SK 5920 0560 NORTHGATE CSO IMPROVEMENTS SCHEME, LEICESTER An Archaeological Watching Brief During groundworks for the Northgates CSO Improvements Scheme, Leicester Report No. : 2001-107 Jarvis, W Leicester : University of Leicester Archaeological Services, 2001, 12pp, pls, figs, tabs, refs An archaeological watching brief was undertaken during groundworks for the Northgates CSO Improvements Scheme, Leicester. Most of the trenches exposed disturbance or truncation due to cellaring or more recent groundworks, with residual finds representing disturbed contexts of Roman and medieval date being made. An undated masonry structure was observed at the west end of Sanvey Gate, and cobbled surfaces and a possible gully were identified in pipe shafts on Belgrave Gate. No other significant archaeological deposits or finds were identified during machining. [Au(abr)] Archaeological periods represented: MD, PM, RO, UD 3/27 (E.62.A013) SK 5910 0740 OLD BRIDGE, THURCASTON ROAD, BELGRAVE BELGRAVE. Old Bridge, Thurcaston Road 4
Cooper, L :In source: 01/62/A, 92 Engineering investigations to the SAM (SAM31) and Grade II Listed Building necessitated a watching brief on the intervention works and an archaeological drawn and photographic survey by ULAS. Seven trial holes were excavated through the road surface down to the arch intrados. No original bridge core material was observed, this presumably having been removed and replaced during restoration works in the 1960s. However, the medieval arches were relatively intact having been encased by a wider 18th century construction. At that time a roving bridge was added downstream which originally allowed a foot crossing linking the towpaths on each side. The cutwaters and spandrels were mostly refurbished during the 1960s. [Sec(abr)] 3/28 (E.62.A005) SK 5500 0489 SACHEVEREL ROAD, NEW PARKS, LEICESTER Archaeological Watching Brief at Sacheverel Road, New Parks, Leicester Jones, C Northampton : Northamptonshire Archaeology, 2001, 4pp, figs Work undertaken by: Northamptonshire Archaeology An archaeological watching brief was carried out during the groundworks for the proposed residential development. The ground was very disturbed by modern demolition rubble. No archaeological features were observed nor were any artefacts recovered even to the north where there was less disturbance. [Au(abr)] 3/29 (E.62.A016) SK 6258 0598 ST MARY'S CHURCH HALL, HUMBERSTONE, LEICESTER An Archaeological Watching Brief at St Mary's Church Hall, Humberstone, Leicester Report No. : 2001-133 Priest, V Leicester : University of Leicester Archaeological Services, 2001, 10pp, pls, figs, refs A watching brief was carried out during groundworks for an extension at St Mary's Church Hall. The site lay within an area of archaeological potential, being within the historic settlement core of the medieval village of Humberstone and adjacent to the 13th century Church of St. Mary's. In addition recent fieldwork had produced evidence in the vicinity for probable Saxon remains to the south of the development site. No archaeological deposits were encountered during the groundworks and the excavated areas showed the site to contain all redeposited material. The site lay on ground that was at least a metre lower than the church opposite and it may have been that this area was terraced and built up during previous construction phases. [Au(abr)] 3/30 (E.62.A001) SK 5845 0443 ST. MARTINS WEST AND THE EAST WING OF THE GULDHALL, LEICESTER An Archaeological Watching Brief on the Site of the Proposed Leicester Cathedral Visitors Centre, St. Martins West and the East Wing of the Guildhall, Leicester Report No. : 2001-162 Gnanaratnam, A Leicester : University of Leicester Archaeological Services, 2001, 46pp, figs, tabs, refs An archaeological watching brief was carried out on the site of Leicester Cathedral Visitors' Centre and upon a new drain trench along St. Martins West. Stone footings were revealed beneath part of the brick-built Constable's House in the Guildhall complex. It was likely that these were part of the 5
footings to an earlier building, which could have been of medieval date, possibly the kitchen area known from historical sources. Truncated stone footings were also revealed beneath the brick foundations of the southern brick-built gable of the East Wing. Their alignment and size suggested that they were remnants of the footings of the originally timber-framed gable. Work within the East Wing of the Guildhall revealed the last phase of clay floors in the south of the building, together with a stone built feature which probably related to the demolished stairway to the old Town Library which was moved to the Guildhall in 1631. The trench for the drains revealed the remains of a building beneath St. Martins West extending into St. Martins Churchyard and fronting onto Peacock Lane, of possible 13th century date. Pebble surfaces of possible medieval date were also found beneath the modern footpath. No evidence was found of the St Martins Vicarage which was described in historical sources. This timber framed building of medieval date stood until the opening of the cemetery extension, however, any remains were likely to have been destroyed during its use as a graveyard. Two monumental grave slabs of medieval date were recorded. A photographic survey was completed of the southern elevation of the Guildhall. [Au(abr)] Archaeological periods represented: MD, MO, PM, RO, UD 3/31 (E.62.A007) SK 5650 0290 ST. PETERS CHURCH, BRAUNSTONE An Archaeological Watching Brief During the Excavation of Foundation and Service Trenches at St. Peters Church, Braunstone, Leicester Report No. : 2001/112 Derrick, M Leicester : University of Leicester Archaeological Services, 2001, 12pp, figs, tabs, refs An archaeological watching brief was undertaken during the excavation of foundation and service trenches in advance of the construction of a church hall. Five trenches were excavated in total. These contained remains of burials, original church wall foundations and brick-built Victorian heating ducts. Two sherds of medieval pottery were found in trench 3 while medieval tile fragments were recovered from contexts in trench 5. [Au(abr)] Archaeological periods represented: MD, PM, UD 6