LAND ADJACENT TO 'THE BEECH', Stretton, Burton on Trent
NGR: SK 2556 2593

A desk-based assessment was carried out of the site which is near to where several Anglo-Saxon burial urns where found in the 19th century. The 19th century archaeological recording was not detailed enough to pinpoint the burial grounds exact location.

The cartographic evidence reveals that the land has not been developed since the 18th century. The only intrusion near to the site before the 19th century, apart from farming, was the construction of the Trent and Mersey Canal in 1777. At the end of the 19th century part of the site became part of the local cricket ground. The north part of the cricket ground was re-designated as a bowling green between 1924 and 1937, but the southern area where the site is seems to have been left open.

Nash, A, Land adjacent to 'The Beech', Stretton, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire: Report on a desk-based assessment, August 2001, Marches Archaeology Series 201

BYRKLEY PARK, East Staffordshire
NGR: SP 166 233

A desk based assessment of land at Byrkley Park, East Staffordshire indicated four principal phases of activity affecting the landscape. The earliest was the creation of a chase or forest in the medieval period, with a hunting lodge and fish ponds towards the centre of the site. In the later 18th century a new country house was built to the south-west of the earlier lodge, with various additions and changes to the landscape, including remodelling of the ponds, after the forest was enclosed in the early 19th century. In the late19th century a new Lodge replaced the late 18th century one. An airfield to the north-west of the site encroaches into the area, with an area of bunkers.

Stone, R, Byrkley Park, East Staffordshire: Report on an archaeological desk-based assessment, June 2001, Marches Archaeology Series 184

ELFORD PARK FARM, Elford
NGR: SK 1899 1226

A watching brief was maintained on the conversion of redundant barns to new housing. The excavation of trenches for new drainage and underground sewer and gas tanks was observed. There was no significant archaeology.

Nash, A, Elford Park Farm, Elford, Staffordshire: A Report on an Archaeological Watching Brief, December 2001, Marches Archaeology Series 217

9-21 GREENHILL, Lichfield
NGR: SK 121 096

An evaluation trench at the rear of No. 15 found deep cultivation soils and post-medieval features. A stone built hearth of medieval date was found nearby during the later watching brief.

Detailed excavation to the rear of Nos. 17 and 19 found that post medieval development of the site had removed much of the pre-existing horizontal stratigraphy, probably also removing any shallower cut features in the process. Two medieval wells were partly excavated along with two cesspits and three other medieval pits. The site was first developed in the 13th century. Small quantities of 12th century pottery may indicate sporadic activity at that date. Most of the cut features were filled in by the early 14th century and there was little evidence for occupation of the site between the 14th and 17th centuries. The stratigraphic, artefactual and environmental evidence will contribute to a greater understanding of the development of this eastern suburb of Lichfield and has implications for published theories concerning earlier road systems.

Assessment of the standing buildings on Nos. 17-21 identified a two bay two storey solar block of mid-15th century date which formed a cross wing to a now lost hall range on the site of No. 19. This calls into question the excavation evidence for sparse occupation at this time, which may be explained by removal of below ground deposits by post medieval development. The remaining structural evidence of the building stock indicates continuing alterations throughout the post-medieval period, modernising and extending the earlier structures, so that the external appearance is now predominantly of Georgian and Victorian date.

Tavener, N & Stone, R, 9-21 Greenhill, Lichfield, Staffordshire: Assessment report on the excavation, watching brief and building recording, April 2001, Marches Archaeology Series 178

15 SANDFORD STREET, Lichfield
NGR: SK 1157 0936

Following previous evaluation an excavation of an area of 440 sq. m was carried out in the old garden area and also a watching brief on subsequent ground works around the periphery of the excavation area.

The earliest feature was a substantial ditch crossing the site east to west, virtually parallel to the later Friary precinct wall. The ditch was c. 2m deep originally and was utterly straight with a tidily cut V-profile and. The ditch was subsequently recut virtually within its original footprint but slightly shallower. It was probably too deep and neatly cut to be a simple field boundary ditch and is more likely to have been have been a territorial boundary. The base was level across the site so a drainage or water carrying function is possible, indeed it may have served a dual role. At present, the ditch cannot be closely dated but the upper fill was cut by a small pit containing pottery of probable 12th century date.

The ditch, which is of major importance to local studies, appears to have stood in isolation. Industry, possibly tanning, began on the site at some stage in the 12th or 13th centuries, continuing on to the 14th century. The earliest pits were found entirely sealed below the precinct wall of the Friary, probably extending into the area of that precinct. The later pits may have slightly overlapped with the early domestic occupation of the site in the later 13th or 14th centuries.

The limited occurrence of metallic slag hints at metal working in the near vicinity, but probably not on site, during the same period. With the abandonment of the possible tanning, the site seems to have gone into exclusively domestic occupation with a range of hearths, wells, cesspits and ancillary structures such as outhouses. Although the most prolific period for the creation of features was within the mid 13th to 14th centuries, there was no evidence of the abandonment of the site in the later 14th century for the pottery evidence indicates continuous occupation from the later 13th century to the present day.

The medieval soil profile remained virtually intact along the southern and eastern margins of the site. Preliminary analysis of the deep stratigraphic sequences along those margins indicates that they will, with further analysis, be well understood and that most of the remaining features to the north west can be tied in fairly closely. These stratigraphic sequences include many of the medieval contexts from which pottery was recovered. Very few such sequences have been recorded in Lichfield so the medieval assemblage would be of enormous value for testing the applicability of the West Midlands regional type series to Lichfield.

Tavener, N, 15 Sandford Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire: Assessment report on the excavation and watching brief, June 2001, Marches Archaeology Series 187

PIPELINE DIVERSION, TRENTHAM QUARRY, Loggerheads
NGR: SJ 752 369

Archaeological works were carried out along the course of a proposed new pipeline. Field walking produced no significant archaeology. A watching brief was maintained during surface stripping. Along the majority of the route no significant archaeology was found. In fields to the north of Field 1 of the fieldwalking survey, four flints were found. One is a scraper probably of bronze age date.

The prehistoric finds may suggest that a settlement was located on or near the route of the pipeline.

Nash, A, Pipeline Diversion, Trentham Quarry, Loggerheads, Staffordshire: Report on a programme of archaeological works, September 2001, Marches Archaeology Series 203

37 IRONMARKET, Newcastle-under-Lyme
NGR: SJ 851 463

A watching brief was carried out during groundworks for an extension to the old post office. The site is within the probable area of the medieval settlement although the existing building is of no great antiquity. A total site strip was undertaken. A post medieval subsoil, and a medieval subsoil were encountered although both had been almost completely removed by later excavation associated with the old post office and service trenches No significant archaeological features were identified.

Howard, R, 37 Ironmarket, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire: A report on an archaeological watching brief, December 2001, Marches Archaeology Series 219

ST GILES AND ST GEORGE'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, Newcastle-under-Lyme
NGR: SJ 8424 459

Two trenches excavated to investigate the possibility of pool deposits remaining in the area of Pool Dam Playing field showed that in the area of the proposed school no deposits of archaeological significance remain. The land had been used as a dump in the early part of the 20th century and works associated with that use had removed all earlier deposits.

Appleton-Fox, N, St Giles and St George's Primary School, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire: Report on an evaluation excavation, October 2001, Marches Archaeology Series 208

21-22 CHURCH STREET, Tamworth
NGR: SK 217 040

A watching brief was maintained at the site, which was formerly a Police Station and is located close to Saint Editha's Church in what was the centre of the medieval town.

The observed excavations revealed no significant archaeology. Where the trenches and surface stripping were carried out by the contractor modern services and cellars were encountered. Natural sand was seen in 2 trenches.

Nash, A, 21-22 Church Street, Tamworth, Staffordshire: Report on an archaeological watching brief, August 2001, Marches Archaeology Series 196

TAMWORTH YOUTH CENTRE, Albert Road, Tamworth
NGR: SK 2088 0432

A desk-based assessment was carried out prior to determination of a planning application for an extension on the northern side of the Youth Centre, covering an area of approximately 73 square metres.

The assessment revealed that the centre is situated directly on the line of the town's ancient defences. Archaeological evidence from excavations around the defensive circuit indicate that the site lies on a potential pre-10th century defensive ditch. The site is definitely situated on the Saxon defences thought to be erected by Æthelflaed in 913 AD and the later Norman defences constructed in the 12th century.

The site was subsequently undeveloped until the construction of Albert Road in the late 19th century. The cartographic evidence of 1884 shows a house and timber yard occupying the site. After World War II the site became a youth centre with two prefabricated buildings, while the existing house became the home of a youth leader. In 1970 a new purpose built centre with tennis/football courts adjacent to it was built on the site of the 19th century house.

The available evidence suggests that any Saxon and medieval archaeology is likely to remain largely intact in the northern half of the proposed extension. Previous construction work and drainage may have damaged the deposits in the southern half of the area.

Nash, A, Tamworth Youth Centre, Albert Road, Tamworth, Staffordshire: A report on a desk-based assessment, June 2001, Marches Archaeology Series 185

TAMWORTH YOUTH CENTRE, Albert Road, Tamworth
NGR: SK 2088 0432

An evaluation excavation, following a desk based assessment, showed that the northern half of the footprint of the proposed extension is entirely occupied by the fills of a large ditch. The ditch is undoubtedly part of the town's defences but it is not known whether it belongs to the Saxon or Norman phase. The ditch has remained virtually undisturbed since it silted up.

Parts of the southern half of the footprint of the proposed extension have been disturbed by previous groundworks. The full extent of this disturbance remains unknown but cut features may survive within that area and also possibly below the floor of the existing Youth Centre.

Tavener, N, Tamworth Youth Centre, Albert Road , Tamworth, Staffordshire: A report on an archaeological evaluation, November 2001, Marches Archaeology Series 215