As part of Winchester Heritage Open Days PCA will open the Central Winchester Regeneration site to the public between 12 noon and 2pm on weekdays for a talk/tour with poster displays and finds viewing.
When: 8th-17th September, 12-2pm
Where: Central Winchester Regeneration site, Winchester Bus Station yard, Busket Lane, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9BA
Our investigation comprises four trenches in what was the bus station, in the north-eastern part of the historic core of Winchester. The trenches target a deep, well-preserved waterlogged archaeological sequence (demonstrated by geoarchaeological boreholes) and aim to inform development proposals for CWR that have yet to be drawn up. In fact, the archaeology will drive and inform the development proposals, and it is intended, longer term, to preserve as much of the archaeological sequence as possible.
What we expect to find is evidence of the Roman, Anglo-Saxon, medieval and post-medieval town – a classic urban archaeological sequence. As the water table in this area is unusually high, around 1.6m BGL, the site has the added potential of exceptional preservation of organic artefacts and palaeoenvironmental material. Our work here has the potential to address a number of current objectives in research into all periods of the city’s past and is expected to last 4 months.
Mark your calendars for Saturday September 2 and prepare to be immersed in history from 10am to 4.30pm!
Our guided tours will explore Trench 1, where visitors to our first open day will be able to see the progress we have made. This will be followed by a visit to the newly opened Trench 3 containing archaeology below the current water level (water will be pumped out of the trench during the day!).
The interactive activities will take place in Abbey Gardens. We hope to see you there!
This clay tobacco pipe, which reads ‘PEACE 1856’, commemorates the treaty of Paris which ended the Crimean War. The pipe was made in Winchester at the Bridge Street kiln site by Richard Goodall who ran the site from 1860 until at least 1914. The pipe mould has a long and complex history; it was originally used by James Chamberlain and lacked the shields, which were added after the 1856 peace treaty. The mould was then passed on to Richard Goodall, probably via his father, Richard Sr., and occurs in the 1860s deposits from his kiln site in Winchester, so it was clearly in production for some time after the event commemorated. We may well come across more pipes from this kiln site in our ongoing work at the Central Winchester regeneration site!
On Saturday we welcomed visitors to our first open day at the Central Winchester Regeneration site to see what we’ve found so far. We had to dodge a few showers to take groups from our display of finds and posters in Abbey Gardens to see Trench 1 with the medieval and Victorian remains that we’ve uncovered.
Don’t worry if you missed it, there are two more open days coming up on September 2nd and October 7th, where we’ll unveil more discoveries and explore new trenches!
Our first open morning at the Central Winchester Regeneration site is on 29 July – come along and see what we’ve found! Guided tours will start and finish at our stall in Abbey Gardens and attendees will get a chance to view some of the finds from the excavation.
On 26th July PCA joined the CWR Archaeology Panel to discuss the Central Winchester Regeneration project. PCA regional manager Paul McCulloch revealed that after the Victorian alley from last week’s update was recorded, a thick layer of soil was removed to expose a wall, which is part of a medieval building fronting onto Tanner Street. These remains lie just 1m below the carpark. On one side of the wall, the building’s backyard is represented by a layer of cobbles covered in oyster shell. On the other side a layer rich in roofing slate fragments is possible evidence of the building’s demise.
It’s wall to wall archaeology in Trench 1! But who lived in this building? By comparing the archaeology with documentary evidence, we can probably find out. Winchester’s secrets are coming to light!
Watch the full update here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dpnp3g9m_5U&t=1860s
To coincide with The Council for British Archaeology’s Festival of Archaeology (15-30 July), there will be two events where you can find out more about our work on the Central Winchester Regeneration site.
ONLINE: Wednesday 26 July at 2pm on Teams – PCA will join the CWR Archaeology Panel to discuss the project, joined by Keith Wilkinson from the University of Winchester who will have a radiocarbon dating update. There will be a panel discussion and the opportunity to ask questions.
Watch the presentation and Q&A here
IN PERSON: Saturday 29 July – Join us for guided tours of Trench 1 (next to Coitbury House). The tours will start and finish at our stall in Abbey Gardens and attendees will get a chance to view some of the finds from the excavation. Meet at the PCA Gazebo in Abbey Gardens anytime between 10am and 1pm.
We will be welcoming volunteers on Wednesdays and Thursdays to help process finds from our excavations at the Central Winchester Regeneration site.
Wednesday will be Environmental processing at the University of Winchester; Thursday will be finds processing at the PCA Winchester office.
Every Wednesday from 26 July–21 September
Every Thursday from 27 July–17 October
Once your booking has been made, you will receive an email to the address used in the booking, which will include detailed instructions on location and timings.
The Central Winchester Regeneration site has come alive! Work began on Monday 17th July with excavation in the car park next to St Clement’s surgery on Tanner Street. The site has been buzzing with the arrival of fencing and equipment, including the ‘Big Orange Trowel’. A start has been made on Trench 1 next to Coitbury House, with the asphalt and modern layers removed under the watchful eye of Shane Maher.
This revealed a section of what we think is an alleyway that ran behind the gardens of a terrace called Forder’s Buildings, which is first shown on the 1st Ordnance Survey map of 1871 and on maps up to the 1960s, when the winds of change swept away remnants of Victorian housing from the heart of the city.
We will be welcoming volunteers on Wednesdays and Thursdays to help process finds from our excavations at the Central Winchester Regeneration site.
Wednesday will be Environmental processing at the University of Winchester; Thursday will be finds processing at the PCA Winchester office.
Use this form to book your place, please provide any relevant information, such as disabilities or other abilities, that would contribute to your volunteering experience. Once booking has been made, you will receive an email to the address used in the booking, which will include detailed instructions on location, timings, etc.
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