The penetrative groundworks associated with the construction of the manege consisted of a mechanical strip, which was conducted whilst under constant archaeological observation. Mechanical excavations were undertaken by use of a 360� excavator, equipped with toothless grading bucket. The strip penetrated into topsoil and subsoil layers, which formed extant ridge and furrow, to an average maximum depth of 0.45m below Modern ground. No archaeological features or natural deposits were revealed; however, residual datable artefacts recovered from the excavated soils included small assemblages of probable Prehistoric flints and abraded Roman pottery, as well as Post-medieval ceramics. The recovered finds therefore constitute limited evidence for Prehistoric and Roman activity within, or in the vicinity of, the site. The greater proportion of the Post-medieval finds are likely to have been deposited as manuring detritus and are likely to have been associated with Bydemill Farm. The presence of Post-medieval finds within topsoil and subsoil layers suggested that the area around the site had remained under the plough until at least 17th - 18th century and possibly later.