FASCINATING items from Worcester’s historic past are being discovered as part of the excavation of the city’s Cathedral roundabout.

The work, which started in March forms the preparations for the Worcester Cathedral square retail and leisure scheme, is now well under way.

Archaeologists are working hard to uncover and record the ground underneath the centre of the roundabout.

The dig has attracted the interest of many local people, keen to have a look and find out more.

And from today (Wednesday), a member of the Archive and Archaeology team will be at the roundabout from Wednesday to Friday between 9.30am to 3:30pm to talk to people and explain what has been found.

Towards the end of the week the team hope to be able to move into one of the vacant shop units next to the roundabout to use as a base, where they will be able to show historic photos and maps, as well as displaying a number of the finds.

Tours of the site are also being scheduled for city residents who want to take a closer peek at the site, together with a member of staff.

Anyone who wants to take part should join the tour either at the end of High Street or in the shop to ensure a safe crossing over the busy road.

The dig has revealed items from a number of different periods of history, including the foundations and cellars of houses at the west end of Lich Street, which were demolished in the 1960s.

There are also some remains of cellars which date from the 18th century and amongst the finds are small bits of Roman and Saxon pottery which give a tantalising clue for earlier remains of the city’s history that is more deeply buried.

Simon Woodiwiss, Archaeological Services Manager, said “It’s been fascinating to uncover the cellars of the houses and walk on the street for the first time for 50 years, and get hints of an earlier history of the site.”

Amongst the finds was a Military Police cap badge (pictured).

It was recovered from an infilled cellar on the north side of Lich Street.

It is in good condition for an object buried for over 50 years, although the slide bar at the back is damaged.

The design gives a date of 1936 to 19646, so it is likely to have belonged to a soldier serving in the Corps of Military Police during the Second World War.

Anyone with information on friends or relatives who served as a ‘Red Cap’ and subsequently lived in or near Lich Street after the war is asked to e-mail explorethepast@worcestershire.gov.uk

Visit http://diglichstreet.blogspot.co.uk/ for more information about the dig.