ENN100474 - Proposed Grosvenor Shopping Centre Extension, 2000 (Trial trench)

{1} Four separate sites were evaluated where a previous desktop assessment had identified areas of possible archaeological survival. A trial trench to the west of the present bus station found medieval deposits surviving behind the Sheep Street frontage dating from around the 13th to the 16th centuries. Natural bedrock was not exposed over a large part of the trench where there were archaeological deposits and it is possible that earlier remains may be present beaneath the exposed features. Another trial trench to the east of the bus station found truncated medieval remains. Test pits on the Mounts car park uncovered either the top of medieval features or probable friary demolition rubble. In none of the pits was the thickness of the medieval archaeology tested and no natural subsoil was exposed. In one of the test pits two substantial ironstone walls survived to at least three courses high and were presumably a building of the White friars, while another test pit had a late medieval gully cutting a possible clay floor. Test pits on the Newlands car park were situated on recent built up ground and only reached 19th century remains and earlier material may survive beneath. Further medieval deposits, mostly comprising 11th-12th century pits, were identified in a trial trench to the east of the bus station. Later deposits may have been removed by 19th/20th century development of the area. Site code: GC00