Camp Hopson, Department Store, 6-12 Northbrook Street, Newbury, Berkshire

Between the 12th September and 16th November 2004 OA carried out an archaeological watching brief at the rear of the Camp Hopson Department Store, 6-12 Northbrook Street, Newbury, Berkshire (NGR: SU470672). The work was commissioned by Sutton Griffin Architects for the partial demolition and replacement of existing buildings. The watching brief revealed extensive deposits of the 17th-19th century made ground (most likely used to reclaim this former marshland area) and demolition debris (possibly representing the former 18th century buildings known to exist along Northbrook Street). These deposits were observed overlaying an earlier cultivated soil, possibly medieval in date. Alluvial deposits associated with the River Kennet to the south-east were also recorded at the base of the sequence.