Lost Ludlow pub finds at Upper Galdeford Budgens site

The plot formerly taken by the Budgens supermarket in Upper Galdeford is being developed into 19 apartments, 12 parking spaces and two shops.

But Shropshire Council was told that there had been no archaeological investigations before the supermarket was built in the 1980s.

They know that some post-medieval buildings were demolished in the 1980s.

And given the area’s proximity to the medieval town’s walls, experts thought it could have potential.

Heneb Clwyd-Powys Archaeology carried out their painstaking work earlier this year.

The archaeologists say that in 1886 Upper Galdeford used to have no less than seven inns, with three in the study area.

Ancillary buildings behind the inns were for stabling, coach coach houses, accommodation and possibly brewing or bakehouses.

The archaeologists say that mapping from the late 20th century records many of the buildings on the site had been taken down.

There was just one pub left standing until 40-odd years ago. The Portcullis was a pub until the mid 1980s.

They reported on a pit contained large quantities of late 19th or early 20th century artefacts “probably relating to the hostelry including glassware and stoneware bottles, mostly of local manufacture.”

A single sherd of 14th century grooved green-glazed pottery was excavated within the centre of the site.

“This was the only surviving remains relating to the medieval occupation of the site, which presumably comprised extra mural tenements built within the property boundaries fossilised in the construction of the post-medieval properties recorded by 19th century mapping,” the archaeologists write.

The finds included a single stoneware bottle inscribed with Mark Price Powell and Co, a James Keiller and Son marmalade jar from 1828.

There were also glass and stoneware bottles from F. W. Beeston of Ludlow.

The company bottled mineral water, Burton Ale, Dublin Stout and ginger beer.

The glass bottles were ‘presumably used for ales, the stoneware bottles contained either mineral water or ginger beer.

Stoneware bottles were also identified from local spa towns. Several bore the name of Cwm Spring Mineral Water Co. in the Stretton Hills. Two fragments came from the Tenbury Wells Aerated Water Company.

Another stoneware bottle contained beer and came from the Worcestershire Brewery and Malting Co. Kidderminster.

The findings have been presented to Shropshire Council planners who will be called on to decide if a planning condition imposed on the site can be ticked off the developer’s list.