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Kate
Smith
Manager - PEX Delivery Support, Leominster
Border Archaeology
Chapel Walk
Burgess Street
Leominster
HR6 8DE
UK
Border Archaeology Ltd (BA) was instructed by Colm Coyne of Quattro Design Architects on behalf of Metro Realty Homes Ltd to carry out a programme of Archaeological Field Evaluation (AFE) in connection with a proposed residential development of four dwellings at the former Women's Royal Voluntary Service Hall on Land off Lax Lane Bewdley Worcestershire.
Lax Lane represents one of the oldest roads in the town and links directly with the ford over the River Severn, which, prior to the construction of a bridge in 1447, served as the main crossing-point. Additionally, the site lies close to a post-medieval tannery, indicated on the 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map, and the only archaeological evidence of tanning so far recorded in the town, consisting of an alignment of seven 17th and 18th -century plank-lined pits, were found during building work in Corporation Yard.
Although post-medieval features were present, including a section of wall running northeast/southwest, their purpose could not be ascertained and no evidence for tannery structures or of waste associated with the process was present. Two small pits or postholes contained post-medieval pottery and ceramic building material. Their fills were very similar to the deposited subsoil above and it could not be confirmed whether they had been cut through this material. No deposits, structures or features of archaeological significance were identified during the course of the AFE.