Watery Lane, Lichfield

At Watery Lane in Lichfield, Staffordshire, Headland Archaeology uncovered the remains of a small Romano-British farmstead during excavations ahead of a new housing development by Redrow Homes Ltd. The discovery of a roundhouse, granary, and an exceptionally well-preserved stone-lined well offered a fascinating glimpse into life in the Midlands in this time period. With a strong focus on collaboration, careful recording, and creative public engagement, the project turned a routine planning requirement into an exciting opportunity to share local history with the wider community.

As part of a new housing development to the north of Lichfield, 1.4ha of archaeological mitigation was undertaken following the results of a broader campaign of trial trenching. The excavation uncovered largely Romano-British remains, including field systems and a small farmstead.

Particularly noteworthy was the discovery of a compact farmstead that included the remains of a roundhouse, a granary, and a stone-lined well, all within enclosing ditches. The same type of sandstone had been used to construct both the well and the foundations of the granary, suggesting they were contemporary. Partially worked stones, discarded by the original masons, had been repurposed as foundations, capable of supporting the weight of a full granary.

From the outset, Headland Archaeology maintained strong communication with the client and consultant. Our field team responded professionally to the specific challenges of the site, which included the safe recording and dismantling of the well. The well was carefully removed and stored on-site while decisions were made by the County Archaeologist and the Potteries Museum regarding long-term preservation.

Initially, the client expressed interest in reconstructing the well for public display. However, discussions with the County Archaeologist shifted after the project’s stone specialist concluded that the type of sandstone used was unsuitable for public display, as it would decay relatively quickly. It was agreed there was limited value in the museum retaining the well stones as part of the archive. Instead, Headland proposed a different approach. Each of the 79 stones was recorded in detail using photogrammetry by our survey and data team. The result was a highly accurate digital record, which allows for virtual reconstruction and analysis of Roman stonemasonry and construction techniques. This approach not only ensured long-term accessibility of the record to professional archaeologists, historians and members of the public, but also highlighted the potential of digital technologies in heritage preservation.

This legacy was further enhanced by the commissioning of a public information display, which included an overview of the excavation findings and a reconstruction of the site, capturing the moment in its history when the well was being built. Supported by the County Archaeologist, this initiative helped fulfil the public engagement aspect of the planning condition and brought the site’s story to a wider audience.