Land off Eastward Road, Malvern, Worcestershire

Evaluation
Oxford Archaeology undertook a trail trench evaluation on the site of a
proposed residential development at Eastward Road, Malvern,
Worcestershire. The works comprised the excavation of 16 trenches
distributed across the site to assess the potential impacts of the proposed
development. The site was previously the subject of a partial geophysical
survey, but no anomalies of potential archaeological origin were identified.
Three ditches and two pits were recorded within the trenches. Prehistoric
pottery was recovered from two east-west aligned ditches which may be the
remains of a field system. The third ditch was undated, but the NE-SW
alignment suggests the ditch does not form part of the same field system. No
artefactual remains were recovered from either pit and their function is
uncertain.
Substantial deposits of fired clay and coal were observed in the south-east
corner of the site. The origin, date and function of these deposits is unclear
but they appear to be contained in at least two large cut features and
extended to a depth of greater than 2m. It is possible the deposits are
associated with the construction of the railway line immediately to the east of
the site, or the former sewage works recorded within the site on the First
Edition Ordnance Survey Map of 1886
Excavation
Oxford Archaeology undertook a small excavation on the site of a proposed residential development at Eastward Road, Great Malvern, Worcestershire. The works comprised the excavation of two areas targeted on possible ditches recorded during the previously completed trial trench evaluation.
In Area 1 the targeted feature was found to be a pit rather than a ditch as previously suspected. A second pit and a posthole were also recorded in this area. In Area 2 the ditch was confirmed but no further features were identified. None of the features excavated during this phase of works produced any artefacts.