ARCHAEOLOGISTS have been uncovering parts of Tintern’s lost and interesting history at the beginning of the week as they complete a watching brief on what is set to be an extension of the car park at The Anchor Inn.

Dr Neil Phillips from Archaeological Perspectives Analysis Consultancy Ltd said they had found the walls, drains and floors of buildings.

“We have uncovered 16 walls and three drains, part of this may have been the visitors part of the abbey, but it also could have been part of the brass and wire works which were in this area or more industry. It’s pure speculation.”

Dr Phillips said what they found ranged in dates as walls had been built on top of existing floors. “There has been a continuous, umpteenth amount of building here with one going on top of the other,” he said.

The watching brief means archaeologists will record what they have uncovered from a few feet of digging on the site before the development then goes ahead.

The car park will the be made from a special porous pavement which is infilled with grass.