Summary of 2002 projects

DERELICT HOUSE CLOSE TO GILBERTS FARM, BRANSFORD, WORCESTERSHIRE
NGR: SO 801 519

The project provided a photographic record of the exterior of the building prior to any restoration. One likely element of future restoration work on the building will be more detailed archaeological investigation of the structure, internally as well as externally. The photographic record provided by this project will enable any work associated with the restoration, whether archaeological or other, to be informed by a set of prints of the building.

Stone, R., Derelict house close to Gilberts Farm, Bransford, Worcestershire, Report on Photographic Recording, April 2002, Marches Archaeology Series 235

THE SALTWAY, DROITWICH, WORCESTERSHIRE
NGR SO 9009 6339

An archaeological evaluation consisting of the excavation found the corner of a brick structure relating to the 19th century saltworks, 1.58m bgl (below ground level) (27.70m OD). In the other trench only 20th century made-up ground deposits were excavated. The maximum depth excavated in trench 1 was 2.7m bgl (26.58m OD), and in trench 2 2.6m bgl (26.72m OD). The water table was at about 1.9m bgl (c27.40m OD), and problems with extracting the water prevented excavation of earlier horizons. The layers that were excavated were loosely compacted rubble and industrial waste deposited to counteract subsidence in this area. Significant archaeological remains are likely to exist at lower levels, but the evaluation demonstrated that pre-19th century archaeology did not exist at a level which would be affected by the stated engineering requirements

Kenney, J., The Saltway, Droitwich, Worcestershire, A Report on an Archaeological Evaluation, June 2002, Marches Archaeology Series 242

DERELICT HOUSE CLOSE TO GILBERTS FARM, BRANSFORD, WORCESTERSHIRE
NGR: SO 801 519

An assessment of a former farmhouse identified three timber framed phases survive with several nineteenth century additions and alterations.

The earliest phase was a hall and two storey cross wing, probably of late fifteenth or early sixteenth century. One cruck frame of the hall survives as do two elevations of the cross wing. The hall was subsequently replaced, in the late sixteenth or early seventeenth century. The ground plan was not changed but a second storey was added and part of the staircase survives. A large chimney stack was built to serve a new fireplace. In 1625 or soon after (dated by dendrochronology), a north range was added and the ceiling of the principal ground floor room was updated.

Stone, R., Derelict house close to Gilberts Farm, Bransford, Worcestershire, Report on Building Assessment, August 2002, Marches Archaeology Series 250

34 HIGH STREET, PERSHORE, WORCESTERSHIRE
NGR: SO 9491 4585

An assessment of potential for analysis of an excavation revealed that the site has been occupied since at least the medieval period, with tentative evidence of Saxon origin. The status of the site may have changed in the later medieval period and again in the 19th century.

Further analysis of the principal components stratigraphic, ceramic, environmental, faunal and metallic will increase an understanding of the development of the site and allow comparisons to be made with other archaeological information from the town. .

Wainwright, J. & Stone, R., 34 High Street, Pershore, Worcestershire, Assessment Report on the Excavation and Watching Brief with a Project Proposal for Analysis and Publication, November 2002, Marches Archaeology Series 262