We’ve seen throughout the early stages of the construction of Edinburgh’s Trams to Newhaven project that under the road surface there are a number of historical artefacts which have laid untouched for many years and now down in the West Midlands the same has happened as a long-forgotten fountain has been found in Dudley.
An 8.5 metre deep fountain has been found during excavation works in Flood Street car park, Dudley as part of the preparatory works for the extension of the West Midlands Metro from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill.
Cllr Ian Kettle, cabinet member for regeneration and enterprise at Dudley Council, said: “Dudley has a long and fascinating history, and it is always exciting to discover items of historical interest. The unearthing of the well provides a very interesting look at Dudley in days-gone-by at a time when so much work is taking place to transform the borough through new developments and technological advances, including the Metro.”
Mosin Khurshid, Head of Utilities at the Midland Metro Alliance, said: “When carrying out excavation works there is always a possibility for items of historical importance to be uncovered. We paused our works for a short period while we investigated the find and the utilities have now been re-routed around it. The site will be backfilled to allow a new highway to be constructed in the area.”
This 11km extension is scheduled to open by 2023.