NHER 49785 (Monument record) - Late Saxon, medieval and post medieval finds and features, The Old Bell

February 2007. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site.
Two distinct phases of archaeological remains were recorded. The earliest phase dated from the Late Saxon to the early medieval period and consisted of pits and ditches indicative of roadside activity. The later phase dated to the late post medieval period and included the remains of a building which was demolished within living memory.
See report (S1) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S2).
A. Cattermole (NLA), 26 September 2007.

December 2007-January 2008. Metal detecting.
1 post medieval token.
See list in file.
A. Rogerson (NLA), 8 February 2008.

March-September 2008. Excavation.
Final phase of archaeological mitigation prior to development of site. This work saw the full excavation of a block of land adjacent to The Street, followed by strip, map and sample excavations of two additional areas to the east (Areas A and B).
Five phases of activity were revealed with the earliest dating to the Middle Saxon period as represented by a sunken featured building in the north-western area of the site. A number of small burnt animal bone fragments were recovered which could represent cooking activity. Pottery associated with this phase included incised and stamped Ipswich and Thetford-type wares.
Occupation continued through the Late Saxon period and there is further sunken featured building and a possible cellared-building. Finds from this phase included a key terminal fragment possibly from the curved lid of a wooden box and a bone head-dress pin. Both artefacts could be indicative of high status Saxon-Norman occupation. An assemblage of burnt flint could be evidence of possible industrial activity.
The third phase represents a period of change and begins with the construction of a enclosure ditch which could relate to a dwelling of elevated status during the Saxo-Norman period where the western area of the site is divided into roadside plots.
Activity continues through the medieval and post-medieval periods but although deposits are of a domestic nature it is not directly indicative of occupation.
Residual finds included a Neolithic flint blade and a sherd of Iron Age pottery.
See draft publication report (S3) and archive report (S4) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S5).
S. Howard (HES), 27 July 2011.

An archive that probably includes material from both the 2007 and 2008 phases of archaeological work at this site has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2010.70).
P. Watkins (HES), 21 July 2019.

October-November 2011. Metal-detecting.
Roman brooch.
See lists in file.
A. Rogerson (HES), 26 November 2011.

March-April 2011 . Metal-detecting.
One Roman coin.
See lists in file.
A. Marsden (HES), 28 April 2011.