Newland House, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire

Newland House was in the process of being renovated when fire broke out in April 2012, leaving the building gutted and roofless. BaRAS recorded the building prior to, and during, its demolition, then evaluated areas within the footprint of the intended new build.

The building recording largely confirmed the known history of the site. The principal footprint of the house appears to have been established by the late 18th century. The evaluation failed to identify any evidence of earlier occupation. With the natural bedrock sloping down to the north, the level platform on which the house was built was constructed from a series of dump deposits. No finds earlier than the 17th century were found. The buried soil found beneath the made-ground deposits in two of the three trenches contained large amounts of charcoal but no other anthropogenic material. This would seem to suggest the site was previously unoccupied and just had an agricultural use.

West-facing elevation of Newland House

West-facing elevation of Newland House

Overhead view of Newland House recorded from the safety of a cage lifted by a crane

Overhead view of Newland House, looking north. The architectural remains were recorded from the safety of a cage lifted by a crane, due to the poor condition of the building

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