South Hill Park Bracknell Lake Dam Culvert Investigation

On January 26th and 27th 2015 Oxford Archaeology South (OAS) carried out an
archaeological watching brief at South hill Park, Bracknell, Berkshire (NGR SU 8710
6675), during ground investigations at the northern end of South Lake, on the site of
a former sluice. The work was carried out on behalf of Bracknell Forest Borough
Council to investigate the cause of a collapse in the pathway overlying the sluice,
and to investigate the date and function of a brick-arched culvert exposed by the
collapse. The ground investigation and archaeological watching brief were required
to inform a programme of remedial and repair works.
The investigation revealed that the subsidence had occurred over part of the original
18th century culvert, in a section which had previously collapsed and been repaired
in recent times. Further investigation exposed a series of parallel brick channels
along the crest of the weir or dam, thought to be inlet channels designed to carrying
excess water over the bank and under the footpath