A Sanctuary at Wood Lane End, Hemel Hempstead

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The context numbering for 1983 follows on from the 1982 excavations. Feature numbers quoted and shown on plans and sections are those used on site. However, for the convenience of this report the actual buildings are renumbered (1–11) and either retain the number given in the previous report (Vol. xiv), or follow on. Following the reporting of the excavations at this site in the previous issue of Britannia (Vol. xiv), adjacent plots of land were purchased by the developers and incorporated into the new housing estate, the enlarged area comprising a broad swathe of land south of Nos. 108-114 Wood Lane End (FIG. I ) and, in particular, part of the garden of No. 104 which covered much of Building I. Most of the additional land lay outside the protected area but scheduled monument consent was required for construction over the garden of No. 104. This was granted by the DOE provided that the Roman building known to lie there remained undisturbed within the gardens of the new houses. However, during top-soil clearance the south-west side of Building I was accidentally exposed and it became apparent that its plan was not that previously assumed on the evidence of trial-trenching and geophysical survey carried out in 1966-7 and 1982 respectively. In addition, following the stripping of top-soil elsewhere, traces of other Roman buildings and features were discovered. Although development had already begun, the architect and builders were most co-operative in allowing excavation to take place; the excavations were carried out by the DOE's Central Excavation Unit between August and October 1983.