EXPERTS have been searching for evidence of the historic Battle of Neville’s Cross under a former council headquarters.

The Byland Lodge site, which was previously home to the now-defunct Durham City Council, is being turned into a 33-house estate by Keepmoat Homes and Durham County Council, through the Durham Villages Regeneration Company (DVRC).

The site, on Hawthorn Terrace, Durham, lies about two miles from where, on October 17, 1346, more than 1,000 soldiers were killed as the English, led by Lord Ralph Neville and Lord Henry Percy, won a decisive victory against the invading Scots.

Its excavation has been led by TWM Archaeology, of Newcastle, who uncovered Victorian bottles and jars and evidence of medieval plough soil.

David Mason, lead archaeologist for Durham County Council, said: "Although the excavation failed to locate any evidence relating directly to the Battle of Neville’s Cross, it did produce some interesting information and artefacts relating to the history of the area in general."

DVRC has delivered a £100m housing-led regeneration scheme, with almost 1,000 homes being built around Durham City.

The development of Byland Lodge was divisive, as the plans included no affordable housing, but were not ‘called in’ by the Government Office for the North-East.