This report, by the City Museum's Archaeology Officer James Dinn, was first published in the 2000 edition of the Transactions of the Worcestershire Archaeological Society (3rd series, vol.17, ISSN 0143-2389). Worcester residents can find a copy of this book in the City Library on Foregate Street.

Introduction

The quantity of archaeological work in the City of Worcester has increased steadily over the last 10 years, to the degree that a regular summary report is now justified. This does not replace full published reporting where this is needed. However it does provide an opportunity for an overview of recent work and changes in our understanding of the archaeology of the city, and many of the smaller projects do not achieve any formal publication.

The area covered is the administrative District of the City of Worcester. This has been enlarged five times during the twentieth century (most recently in 1987), and now includes the parishes of Warndon and St Peter the Great County as well as a large proportion of the historic parish of North Claines. Work within the Cathedral precinct is, however, not covered here.

During the three year period covered by this report (1997-99), development activity has been concentrated in the historic city centre, and most of the work reported is from this area. The City Sites and Monuments Record records over 120 separate archaeological records over the period. Work has been undertaken by nine separate archaeological organisations. Over 80 of the records have been watching briefs carried out by the City Archaeological Officer, many of these on sites where the archaeological potential had been thought to be low; about 25 of these are reported here. Nearly all of the work has been in response to development proposals.

The sites described here are broadly grouped by area. The text incorporates reports on work by Worcestershire County Archaeological Service, written by Jeremy Bretherton, at City Arcades, 3-5 The Butts, 4-5 Cornmarket, Hopmarket Yard, St Oswald's Almshouses, Police Station (Castle Street), Powick Weir, Worcester Royal Infirmary, Droitwich Road, Manor Farm (Lower Wick), and Lower Wick Sewage Works. Notes on other work by Worcestershire County Archaeological Service and other contractors have been edited from client reports or other written reports.

The results of the work at City Arcades, 37 and 49-55 Friar Street, the Dyson Perrins Museum, and the Police Station (Castle Street), are expected to appear in future volumes of this journal.