NHER 51566 (Monument record) - Undated linear features, 12th-14th century structures and pits

June 2008. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site. Two trenches excavated.
Trench 1, located towards Calvert street, contained a concrete cellar and a number of brick walls, so a sondage was excavated in the north east corner of the trench. A circular well, 2m in diameter and constructed of red brick was uncovered. This clearly dates to the 20th century.
Trench 2, located towards St George's Street featured two linear ditches oriented north- south. Neither contained any datable material, but their location is intriguing within the known topography of the Late Saxon town. Above this was a series of intercutting pits, the fill of which produced 59 sherds of pottery, including Late Saxon sherds, early medieval and medieval wares. The upper fill produced four pottery sherds dating from the 11th- 4th centuries and a fifth intrusive sherd dating from the 15th- 17th centuries. Above this deposit was evidence for a possible structure, which consisted of one shallow posthole, part of a clay floor surface and a hearth. The hearth was a shallow scoop which had been filled with fine layers of ashy and burnt material. Evidence for occupation included sherds of late saxon and medieval pottery, oyster shell and charcoal. Evidence of a more substantial structure consisted of a beam slot/ foundation cut which ran on an east-west alignment and was loated in the north- west corner of the trench, three post pads and a clay floor. Three sherds of local medieval ware and a single sherd of middle saxon pottery were recovered. Cutting into the top of these features were several intercutting pits which contained pottery dating from the 14th to the 16th centuries. Above this was slight evidence for a further structure, as two post holes were recorded along with an area of compacted motar floor surface.
See report (S1) for further information. The results of this work are also summarised in (S2).
H White (NLA) 20 November 2008.