NHER 17398 (Monument record) - Medieval cess pit

12 to 14 July 1981. Revealed in digging foundations for a new house in a gap in the street frontage. 9m from building on north, 22m west of street.
Medieval cess pit. Cut into chalky boulder clay and green-white clay.
Danger of collapse prevented detailed recording but roughly to a depth of 1.8m were darkish rubbly layers, ashy layers, charcoal layers, dark brown to black humic soily layers.
Then to a depth of 2.8m yellow mustard-green brown clean sandy silt sealing cess (deliberate seal?)
Then to depth of 3.5m layers of black stinking cess. With brushwood, twigs, waterlogged deposits containing leather shoe. Medieval sherds.
Bones (samples taken for anaylsis).
The upper two layers contained horse bone.
Ovicaprid horn core.
Late medieval pottery.
Some post medieval sherds, ironwork, shells.
See pottery report by A. Rogerson (NAU) in file.
Photograph (S1) and further details in file.
R. Rickett (NAU), 14 July 1981.