ENN110721 - Cattle Market, 1995 (Watching brief)

{1} A watching brief failed to discover any remains of archaeological interest. It had been hoped that the location of a former minor river channel would be ascertained (along with its associated waterlogged deposits). The combination of 19th century dumping, the limited cutting of service trenches below the dumping levels, and the problem of being present at the most opportune episodes of machine excavation were the reasons for the failure. {2} A watching brief was funded by William Davis Limited in connection with the residential development of part of the former cattle market, off Cattle Market Road. Historic maps of the period 1610-1847 indicate that the area previously comprised a low-lying meadow outside the town. It was not possible to confirm the anticipated course of. a minor river channel but 19th century dumping had raised the local ground-level by up to 1.1 m.