In the 1980s Worcester was the first Cathedral to employ a full-time Cathedral Archaeologist.
The Cathedral Archaeologist is responsible for carrying out excavations, building recording, photography, documentary research and report writing. The entire Cathedral Precinct is a scheduled monument and almost all the buildings within it are listed, including several at Grade I or II*; this requires the preparation of applications for Scheduled Monument Consent and the drawing-up of archaeological research designs for proposals which will affect below-ground deposits and/or historic fabric.
The Archaeology Department works closely with the other departments, especially the Works Department and the Cathedral architect to ensure that the fabric of the building is recorded before the start of restoration work, with details of the main types of stone used and evidence of any previous repairs. Photographs are taken while work is in progress and on completion of each phase of restoration.