Test Pit 8: Riverside (Church Lane)

Test Pit 8 was situated at Riverside on Church Lane, a property occupying a fascinating stretch of the local topography. While the house fronts Church Lane, the parcel of land extends right back across the elevated ridge of the village to the public footpath that runs east-to-west—believed to be the original historic route connecting Barrow upon Trent to Swarkestone.

Because the property spans this high ground, we were particularly keen to investigate the upper back garden area to sample human activity along this ancient thoroughfare over time. Navigating around mature trees and avoiding root systems naturally dictated our exact placement, but the undisturbed soil offered an exciting opportunity to explore the historical usage of this elevated passage through the village core.