This site is in High Street, Much Wenlock, a street once known as Spittle Street with several 15th century buildings including the adjacent Barclays Bank building with timbers dating to 1407-8.  It is being developed as housing  by Bennett Homes of Shrewsbury. 

The first field operation was the excavation of two small evaluation trenches to assess the nature and survival of any archaeological deposits at the site.  This was followed by monitoring large-scale removal of topsoil and the full excavation of the area of the High Street frontage.

Monitoring

This medieval structure, probably a corn drying kiln, was found during the monitoring of subsoil stripping in early November 2006

Clearing the site by machine - Monday 12th June 2006

The site clearance included the demolition of the stables and pig sties.  The stone from the stables will be used in walls around the site.

After the monitoring of topsoil removal the site was surveyed and preparation made for the excavation of the High Street frontage.

On arrival at the site in mid March, 2006, a downfall of snow covered the area. 

We were within the medieval burgaged area of the town. Burgages were the property divisions of medieval towns, They were usually much longer than they were wide, with the narrow end fronting the streets. They belonged to the lord (in this case the Prior of Wenlock) and were usually rented at one penny per month.  The evaluation was within a plot that ran back from the High Street frontage.

In the area to the rear of the High Street burgage plots were redundant farm buildings, including stables and pig sties.  These were built of brick and stone.

After the monitoring of topsoil removal the site was surveyed and preparation made for the excavation of the High Street frontage.