Former Vincent's Garage, 50-54 Eastover, Bridgwater, Somerset.

Client: Aldi Stores Ltd.
Project team: Fiona Edwards, Kerry Ely, Paula Gardiner, Phil Marter and Richard McConnell
Report authors: Phil Marter and Richard McConnell
COAS ref.: COAS/EXC/98/VGB

Between July and September 1998, Context One Archaeological Services (COAS) carried out an archaeological excavation and watching brief at the former site of Vincent's Garage, 50-54 Eastover, Bridgwater, Somerset (ST 3025 3705) as part of a re-development of the site. The work was commissioned by Radley House Partnership and was funded by their client, Aldi Stores Ltd. The site is situated within the medieval suburb of Eastover and in an area which may have been the location of the medieval Hospital of St. John the Baptist.

This investigation was preceded by an archaeological evaluation which revealed intact medieval and post medieval stratigraphy dating from the 14th century immediately below the buildings along the Eastover street frontage with evidence for medieval garden soils to the rear. These deposits incorporated various post holes, shallow pits and ditches. Similar features were uncovered across the development area as well as post-medieval walling, ditches, pits and possible evidence for a former iron foundry.

The evaluation attached particular importance to the medieval deposits surviving beneath the buildings along the Eastover street frontage. Accordingly an area measuring 12m x 17m was identified for full excavation. Due to the severe intrusion of modern occupation layers and contaminated deposits over part of this area, the trench was reduced to 10m x 9m. It was proposed that a watching brief should be carried out over the remainder of the development area during the course of building works.

Excavation revealed significant medieval and post-medieval deposits relating to several building phases disturbed by episodes of redevelopment. Although no conclusive structural evidence was discovered, the earliest deposits appear to relate to a single medieval building with a central hearth. The open space to the rear of this property appears to have extended throughout much of the development area and may have formed part of the Hospital complex. A succession of post-medieval structures, respecting the medieval plan, is later built from both brick and stone. To the rear of these, a post-medieval well is constructed from lias and sandstone over 2m deep cut through an extensive and thick layer of soil pock-marked by a number of post holes and cobbled surfaces.

Whilst the watching brief revealed no further evidence of in situ medieval structures, finds of decorative stonework combined with extensive areas of garden soil deposits suggest that the Hospital complex lay in the immediate vicinity. Later intrusions relate specifically to more recent industrial activity on the site which includeds post-medieval walling, modern drains and storage tanks. Property boundary walls associated with the former Barclay Street were also identified during mechanical excavation on the Broadway street frontage.

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