St Nicholas Church, Stevenage: archaeological investigation and reporting

Observation of drainage works at the church was carried out for the Parochial Church Council. No archaeological features or traces of an earlier church building were revealed within the groundworks. Ground reduction and removal of a stone plinth around the base of the church exposed the lower courses of flint masonry that were identical in nature to the upper courses of stonework of the church walls. The top course of a flint pebble wall foundation that extended c.100mm outwards from the upstanding wall was revealed at this reduced ground level. No in situ burials were revealed and only a small number of disarticulated human bones were recovered from the French drain and the ground reduction works immediately adjacent to the church building. A varying number of disarticulated human remains were retrieved from Soakaways 1-3. These were retained on site for reburial along with the small number of coffin nails and one coffin handle.