More than 300 skeletons found during redevelopment of old Debenhams
The University of Gloucestershire’s City Campus is due this summer.
More than 300 skeletons have been excavated during the redevelopment of the former Debenhams building in Gloucester.
The King’s Square landmark is on course to open as the University of Gloucestershire’s City Campus this summer.
But more details were revealed this week around the unexpected archaeological finds workers came across when digging at the site.
The university commissioned Cotswold Archaeology to carry out an excavation of the site which centuries ago would have been the north-eastern quadrant of a Roman town.
They discovered an eight-metre-long footing of the Western elevation and porch of the post-medieval St Aldate’s Church, built in around 1750.
Thought to be named after a bishop of Gloucester who died in battle in 577.
A post-medieval church of the same name replaced the original church that may have pre-dated the Norman Conquest.
Historians believe the medieval St Aldate’s Church was demolished in the mid-17th century after it sustained damage during the English Civil War.
And members of the press and public who took part in a tour of the building were told on Sunday March 23 that archaeologists excavated 317 skeletons and 83 brick vaults were also recorded.
Large architectural fragments which are part of a reticulated tracery church window, that can be dated to the early 14th century, were also discovered.
Archaeologists say there is a comparable window in the east of south transept of Gloucester Cathedral. It used local limestone from Painswick quarries.
In the basement of the building, what used to be the menswear department of Debenhams, Cotswold Archaeology also found remains of Roman pottery dated from the second century and the footings of a Roman wall, probably from a townhouse, just below floor level
They also discovered a cobbled stone surface in the same location that they believe may be part of a Roman road, dating to between the second and fourth centuries, along with a large quantity of Roman roof tiles that may have been used in the road’s construction.
Cotswold Archaeology discovered pillars they believe could be from the nave of the now-demolished St Aldate’s Church, built in the 18th century following work in what was the delivery area for Debenhams.
Other finds from the archeological evaluation of the site included fragments of a tobacco pipe, possibly dating from the 16th century, and pieces of a post-Medieval wine bottle.
Brick-built burial vaults and a crypt associated with the now-demolished St Aldate’s Church were identified within a service yard area at the site.
This church replaced an earlier medieval church, which had its own churchyard, with its remains likely to lie beneath.
Cliff Bateman, Cotswold Archaeology’s senior project officer at the City Campus site, previously said: “The site as a whole has the potential to increase public knowledge of the Roman, medieval and post-medieval development of this part of Gloucester.
“Gloucester is such a significant place in terms of archaeological study – it’s unbelievable Underneath where we’ve found the 18th century church and medieval and post-medieval burials, there will be Roman buildings in situ.
“Every time we work in Gloucester, we make new discoveries – it’s a massively important place.”
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