During alterations to the layout of the gardens of Hereford Bishop's Palace in October the work was watched by archaeologists. This is standard procedure for digging in Hereford, the centre of which is designated an 'Area of Archaeological Importance' under Act of Parliament. The grounds of the Bishop's Palace in the centre of Saxon Hereford, it almost goes without saying, are within one of the most archaeological sensitive areas in the West Midlands.
The gateway to the Bishop's Palace
Hereford Bishop's Palace seen from across the River Wye in winter
The stables with the palace behind. The site was between the stables and the main house.
Even though the area is archaeologically extremely sensitive, ordinarily, little that would require more than simple examination and recording would be expected. However a hole suddenly appeared! Despite popular expectations this sort of occurrence is virtually unheard of in archaeology.
This was slightly widened to permit access to an underground stone and brick-lined cellar-type structure measuring 2.4 by 1.6 metres.
Nico Vaughan investigating the underground chamber
The current view of this structure is that it is a post-medieval ice-house - a structure for storing winter ice to be used in summer.
Hugo Mason of Hook Mason, Architects, Surveyors & Historic Building Consultants, watches while the Cathedral Archaeologist Ron Shoesmith and Huw Sherlock of Archenfield Archaeology, examine the site.
The interest in the feature was considerable. Here a group of people, including the Right Reverend Anthony Priddis, Bishop of Hereford, discuss the chamber
Unpublished report - The Bishop's Palace, Hereford: archaeological evaluation - Nico Vaughan and Ron Shoesmith 2006.
This report is available at the Archaeological Data Service site
A copy of this report is held in the reference section of Hereford City Library
