Dig reveals Civil War secrets

Civil War enthusiasts can take a closer look at how archaeologists have unearthed a key find in the history surrounding the 17th Century Battle of Worcester on Saturday.

A public open day is being held at an excavation in Lowesmoor close to where developers Carillion Richardson are laying the foundations for a new Asda store as part of a £75million retail development.

Staff from the county council's historic environment and archaeology service have been carrying out an archaeological dig on the site of the former TA Centre and have uncovered a massive ditch.

It is believed to be part of a large angular bastion, constructed at the siege of Worcester in 1646 during the Civil War to protect St Martin's Gate. The medieval city walls were strengthened with ditches and earthworks to protect against attack, and from which the defenders could fire with muskets and artillery. The strong points were angular bastions or 'sconces' that projected. The ditch being excavated is believed to be part of one of these, known as the St Martin's Sconce.

Hal Dalwood, lead archaeologist for the project, said the defences were an important find in examining the history of the Civil War and lead up to the 1651 Battle of Worcester.

"After the Civil War the defences were mostly torn down because the Parliamentary Government wanted to get rid of them and they went through people's back gardens or land. They were in the way so they disappeared quite quickly, unlike the city wall which you can still see battered bits of. They are very important in terms of that short but very significant part of history. They tell us what defences they had, how well built they were and how they worked."

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