Title: |
St Mary's Gardens, Cauldwell Street, Bedford: Archaeological Observation, Investigation, Recodrding, Analysis and Publication |
Series: |
Albion Archaeology unpublished report series
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Downloads: |
albionar1-145863_1.pdf (6 MB)
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Download
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Licence Type: |
ADS Terms of Use and Access
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DOI |
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Publication Type: |
Report (in Series)
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Abstract: |
A programme of archaeological works was undertaken by Albion Archaeology at St Mary's Gardens, Bedford. This was part of preparations for a new cycle and foot path, lamp stands and removal and replanting of trees, on the south side of the river between Town Bridge and County Bridge. The site was centred within the public open space of St Mary's Gardens. The works comprised the monitoring of hand-excavated test pits (dug to establish the location of a gas pipeline), the mechanical excavation of root barrier trench (to accommodate a membrane to prevent disturbance of the proposed new cycle path by tree roots), and the excavation of thirty-two tree planting pits alongside the riverbank. The latter were then backfilled with topsoil in readiness for the new trees. Two additional tree pits were later excavated, c. 30m to the south of the river. The observations within the root barrier trench were limited due to waterlogged ground and a high water table. More detailed findings were obtained from the tree pits where a sequence of make-up layers and alluvial deposits were identified throughout the pits. All structural evidence encountered during the archaeological monitoring related to the reclamation and consolidation of the riverbank, which probably took place during the course of the 19th century, and subsequent phases of development and redevelopment, eventually leading to the establishment of the public open space. No evidence was found for the original form of the King's Ditch, which now runs through St Mary's Gardens in a modern concrete culvert to its outfall on the bank of the river. |
Author: |
J Oetgen
Joanne Barker
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Publisher: |
Albion Archaeology
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Other Person/Org: |
Historic England (OASIS Reviewer)
Please note: this record has been validated by-proxy by Historic England.
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Year of Publication: |
2015
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Locations: |
District: |
Bedford |
Site: |
St Mary's Gardens, Bedford, 'Revitalisation' |
Parish: |
BEDFORD |
County: |
Bedfordshire |
Country: |
England |
Grid Reference: 504950, 249520 (Easting, Northing)
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Subjects / Periods: |
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Identifiers: |
OASIS Id: |
albionar1-145863 |
OBIB: |
2014/21 |
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Source: |
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Relations: |
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Created Date: |
01 Feb 2018 |