Test Pit 6: 36 Twyford Road

Providing crucial data from the western end of the village, Test Pit 6 was excavated in the garden of a modern property on Twyford Road. While the house itself is contemporary, it sits directly within the historic croft (the agricultural plot) behind an older cottage that exhibits a classic medieval toft-and-croft layout. Positioned end-on to the road frontage to allow access to the long parcel of land behind, this older layout strongly suggests an early origin.

Additionally, historic enclosure mapping indicates that a former structure—associated with a neighbouring property—once stood within this garden plot. Rather than excavating directly over the suspected building footprint, we positioned Test Pit 6 in the surrounding garden space to search for refuse layers, pottery, and structural debris. This gave us a brilliant opportunity to test for domestic and agricultural activity spanning from the medieval period through to the era of the Enclosure Acts.

Hold your horses, we’re not there yet!

Hold your horses, we’re not there yet!

© 2026 Barrow upon Trent Parish History Research Group & Barrow Archaeology Group