Protection of the
glassworks and other archaeological remains was achieved by first
covering them using a layer of "Terram" a black woven material that is
permeable (i.e. lets water through) but which provides a physical
barrier or membrane separating the archaeology from an overlying
backfill of clean red sand.
Anyone
excavating in the square in future will thus have a ready made warning
in the form of red sand that they are approaching a sensitive area. Sand
was used because it is an inert dense material that flows into cavities
and will bond the glassworks structures into a compact mass, thus
consolidating and protecting them.
The
sand was carefully put on top and compacted into the furnace, flue
tunnels and other sensitive areas. This was done by hand at first then
using a hand operated vibrating machine to achieve a sufficient degree
of compaction for the square to then be re-surfaced to a standard that
enables its use by vehicles in the future.
