Archaeological watching brief at the City Learning Quarter Substation, Bilston Street, Wolverhampton

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken at the City Learning Quarter, Bilston Street, Wolverhampton (NGR SO 9168 9840). The project was commissioned by McLaughlin & Harvey Ltd, in advance of redevelopment of the site, comprising the demolition and refurbishment of various buildings, plus the construction of new buildings, for a public education quarter, for which planning permission has been granted subject to a programme of archaeological works. Three trenches were monitored under watching brief on the south side of the substation, bordering Old Hall Street. Remains of what was probably the curtain wall for the moat were encountered, along with the platform for the Great Hall. This was derived from upcast clay from the digging of the moat. Three trenches were monitored under watching brief on the south side of the substation, bordering Old Hall Street. Remains of what was probably the curtain wall for the moat were encountered, along with the platform for the Great Hall. This was derived from upcast clay from the digging of the moat. The remnants of a possible stone chamber were also identified, constructed of the same stone as the curtain wall. This had been partially truncated by later activity, possibly related to redevelopment during the 18 th or 19 th century, though this cannot be proved and may date from the demolition of the Hall in the 1890s. Whilst the moat itself was not positively identified, the position of the curtain wall correlates with the projected alignment of the moat at this point, and the upcast platform material is consistent with what has been seen in previous excavations. The results of this investigation do not add conclusive proof for a medieval precursor to the 16 th century Hall, the presence of roof tiles of late-15 th to 17 th century date within the Hall platform layer do suggest that such a building was more likely than not.