The Square, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire Archaeological Evaluation Report

Oxford Archaeology was commissioned by Leagate Project Services to
undertake an archaeological evaluation of the site of a proposed soakaway at
The Square, Stow-on-the-Wold. This work was undertaken to inform the
planning authority in advance of a submission of a planning application.
The evaluation comprised one trench which contained the lower courses of
two walls, several demolition layers and garden soils, from which 17th-early
20th century finds were recovered. Both walls were aligned NE-SW and the
northerly wall was made of roughly hewn limestone blocks, the southerly wall
was made of brick. The bricks in the southerly wall were dated as later 18thearly
19th century. Both walls may have been boundary or garden walls
associated with properties to the north-east of the site which date from the
17th century. A sequence of demolition layers abutted and capped both walls
and a large number of finds were recorded close to both walls. This included
pottery, fragments of clay pipe and over 20 fragments of apothecary glass
dating to the mid/later 18th to early 19th century. The upper sequence of
garden soils contained 19th and early 20th century finds, including a complete
brooch. Environmental evidence included a variety of animal bones such as
goose, cattle, sheep/goat along with three oyster shells.
It is clear that the site contains previously unknown archaeological features
dating from the post-medieval period. The post-medieval features are of local
significance as they relate to the urban character of the area, close to the
market square.