All of the excavation work was undertaken by hand. Excavation was undertaken to remove turf from the area a proposed new porch, followed by excavation of foundations to the required depths. This work included removal of two sections of a modern concrete path on the west side of the cottage. The excavations were wholly within a layer of post-medieval garden soil, which had previously been disturbed by the excavation of trenches for two water pipes. The material recovered from the trench backfill was typical of domestic activity during the post-medieval period, comprising 18th to 19th century ceramics and a clay pipe stem. This material was likely to be associated with the occupation of Derwent Lodge Cottage.
Martin Railton (Wed,) studied this question.