AN archaeological find appears to have been made at the city site of a new rooftop bar.

Officers from both the city and county council archaeological departments are involved, following the discovery at the Sansome Street site.

Builders are currently erecting the new bar, part of the nearby Hanbao restaurant, which has involved digging foundations.

On the now-demolished Toby’s Tavern site, the structure will connect with the current Hanbao premises, in Foregate Street, and another Grade II building to the rear.

Andrew Jeff, of The Hopmarket, took photos on Tuesday of what he believes are the wall and entrance way of an 18th Century cottage.

“A young archaeologist was joined by a lady and a guy from the county council archaeological department,” said Mr Jeff, 58.

“The young lad was rushing around. They took away some samples in plastic bags.

“The contractors appear to be building around the ‘cottage’ and wooden boarding has obscured it now.”

A keen amateur historian, Mr Jeff has a birds-eye view of the construction from his flat and filmed the demolition of the old pub. He has since taken an interest in the day-to-day creation of the new foundations.

Referring to the ‘cottage’, Mr Jeff said: “I wouldn’t think it’s anything of national importance, not Saxon or Norman conquest.

“It’s very rare to find Richard III under a car park,” he joked.

“Rather, it could be the remains of a small cottage on a street that was there – a low level street, with street level windows.

“It’s maybe 18th Century and people were probably very short, only about five feet.

“The builders have had to dig down very deep to lay the concrete for the foundations, and this an interesting find.”

A city council spokesman said the find is being handled by both themselves, “as the main authority” and the county council. He could not provide a comment before print.