Site Event/Activity record ECH6125 - Archaeological Monitoring and Recording During Bridge Investigations, Holt-Farndon Bridge

A watching brief undertaken by Earthworks Archaeology to monitor a series of trial pits excavated in order to investigate the apparent acceleration in the rate of decay of the stonework of Farndon Bridge, also to determine the construction details of surface and drainage works undertaken in 1990. Five trial pits were dug, two located at either end of the carraigeway and three in the pedestrian walkway refuge areas contained within the triangular cutwater projections located either side of the bridge. Results of the watching brief have demonstrated that medieval masonry probably survives within at least one of the triangular pier projections of the bridge. These remains lie immediately beneath the thin layer of concrete laid during the late 20th century restoration works and, as such, may be vulnerable to future construction works. (1)