We are delighted to announce our involvement in the Central Winchester Regeneration Project, as detailed in Winchester City Council’s press-release.
The development site is a potential archaeological goldmine with the possibility to address a number of current objectives in research into all periods of the city’s past.
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Our investigation will comprise four trenches in what is now 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 aims 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 which will provide invaluable insights… but this will also pose intriguing challenges!
On 26 July PCA will be joined by the CWR Archaeology Panel in an online event to share details of the programme, the purpose of the work and what’s been happening so far. We will provide regular social media updates and intend to hold open days on site.
The first public open day will be on Saturday 29th July.
Cllr Martin Tod, Leader of Winchester City Council, (pictured above right, with Paul McCulloch and Tracy Matthews, Historic Environment Officer) says:
“I’m incredibly excited to see this work starting. Our city has such a rich record of its history and there’s been brilliant archaeological work over the years too – but there’s still so much more to learn. I know many of us share a strong interest in our city’s past and so I am delighted that PCA’s community event programme will give people the chance to find out more about the work they’re doing and this relatively under-researched part of Winchester.
But while many of us are fascinated by our past, we also must look to our future. These works also take us one step further towards regenerating one of the most rundown parts of our city – but doing so that reflects our pride in our city’s heritage and history.”
Paul McCulloch, PCA Winchester Regional Manager says:
“We are delighted to be able to assist the Council in finding out about the archaeology of the CWR site and in providing information that will help toward its redevelopment. The site offers a special archaeological opportunity to investigate well-preserved remains of Winchester’s Roman, Anglo-Saxon, medieval and more recent past that can be used to help in the design and setting of its regeneration.”
