This year saw the group excavating at Orley, near Bredenbury. The Tithe Map showed a Blacksmith’s Shop there. This is alongside the Old London-Aberystwyth Road, were it was thought that the Mail Coach horse teams were changed, before the climb up to Bredenbury.
Beginning on the 28th April, we started with a metre square test pit, over an obvious building platform. Digging through 18 cms of topsoil and rubble, we were rewarded with an intact stone wall line. We extended to, 4.5 mtrs by 1.5 mtrs to get a better understanding of what we had found. We dug down, on what would have been the outside of the building, and found that 3 courses of stone were still intact. Pottery sherds found, were mainly 18th Century, a stone roof tile with a peg hole was found, indicating a stone roof.
Another test pit, 1.5 mtrs square, was opened on the projected line of the wall, and we came down on a rough stone yard surface. A third and final test pit, 1.5 mtrs square was opened near to the road where metal slag and a chunk of metal were discovered. The clay was reddened, so had been subjected to great heat, this was the probable site of the Forge. All in all a successful mission !
We now have the opportunity to excavate on Bredenbury Court land, following our discovery of burnt daub and Medieval pottery when a service trench was being dug. Thanks to Simon Steele, current owner of the Court. This will be our main dig in 2024.