What was found and the future

What took place and what was found ?

 

A series of trenches were dug in locations which were most likely to reveal significant parts of the glassworks (shown on the plan on the right). 

 

The council's structural engineer has been fully consulted to ensure stability of surrounding structures. 

Granite Setts from the site are being stored at the Black Country Living Museum until a new use is found for them.

 

After careful cleaning, scale drawing and the making of a photographic record by the BUFAU the remains of the glassworks have been "cocooned" in order to fully protect them and so they will be available for future research as and when required.

 

The area has now been covered over and the car park reinstated. 

 

 

 

Once the findings of the evaluation have been analysed and fully interpreted BUFAU will produce an illustrated publication so that the results of the excavations will be available to all those with an interest. We hope to publish this on the website in due course. In addition the findings were so significant that we are also investigating the possibility of publishing them in a national journal such as Post-Medieval Archaeology.

 

The original objectives of the Archaeological Evaluation, i.e. to assess the degree of survival and significance of surviving archaeological remains in order to enable the new Civic Square to be created without damaging any important archaeology, have been fully met. 

 

As a bonus the excellent state of preservation of the glassworks remains has exceeded our expectations and their importance is such that they justify the highest level of protection available and might easily be scheduled as an ancient monument by the Government.