PCA Winchester was commissioned to carry out a watching brief (monitoring and recording) during works to replace a gas main and restore supply connections to Colebrook Street that included the excavation of 73 trenches which formed part of the gas main replacement groundworks.

Colebrook Street lies in the historic core of Winchester, to the south of The Broadway and east of the cathedral. The immediate urban topography comprised a mixture of office, residential, and open space and includes several historic properties.

The site is located within an area of significant archaeological potential including several monuments of Romano-British, Saxon and medieval date. Of relevance to this programme of works, Colebrook Street formed an element of the medieval urban street plan separating major ecclesiastical structures including St Mary’s Abbey, the Norman cathedral and Wolvesey Palace. Due to these archaeologically and historically significant resources, an archaeological watching brief was required as part of the planning consent.

The aim of the watching brief was to monitor groundworks, investigate and record archaeological resources that are identified, taking account of the date and nature of the potential resources.

The result of the watching brief indicated that even though there was a high potential for archaeological remains in the general area, little archaeology survived due to the high amount of disturbance from modern excavations and services. The groundwork excavations extended up on to The Broadway, which was heavily disturbed. Nevertheless, the remains of the Roman street surface were revealed along with the remains of a possible medieval wall.

The intermittent approach to this watching brief meant that the contractors work could be completed efficiently whilst also making sure that archaeological remains were not negatively impacted upon.

Following fieldwork, a post-excavation assessment report was completed, to comply with the conditions of the planning consent.