Two trial trenches in the car park to the rear of the hotel uncovered stratigraphic Roman occupation layers. The earliest features were a gravel surface (possibly a yard) and demolition debris from a Roman building. Later in the Roman period, this building was demolished and the groundlevel was raised before a new building was constructed. A large building was erected, the evidence for which was four foundations (robbed out).Dimensions of robber trench could suggest that building was two-storey. Building appears to be of high status, producing evidence of tiled roof, heating system and painted walls. <1>
Post-medieval pits or ditches for rubbish or cess suggest it was a back yard. A yard surface was subsequently laid on top of these features.<1>
During groundworks for a new extension at the rear of the hotel a borehole was dug and one piece of painted wall plaster was retrieved from between 1.5m and 2.0m below ground level. Other groundworks only impinged on modern deposits or were not observed by an archaeologist. <2>