NHER 54775 (Monument record) - Medieval pits and post-medieval structures

March 2010. Trial Trench.
Evaluation of proposed development site.
The single trench excavated exposed a number of archaeologically significant features of probable medieval or post-medieval date. These remains included a wall foundation that was aligned roughly north-to-south and therefore perpendicular to the adjacent lane. These foundations were 0.7m wide, 0.23m deep and composed of alternate layers of chalk lumps and orange sand. Banded footings such as these are typically associated with structures of medieval date. Against the wall was a sequence of mortar deposits which could be the base of an oven or kiln. Along the western edge of these deposits was a 0.2m wide strip of mortar and lumps of chalk and flint which may have represented the outer wall of the oven/kiln structure. Other notable features included a circular well with a lining of flint and chalk rubble with cream coloured mortar. The lack of brick in its construction suggests that was possibly of medieval rather than post-medieval date. The well contained pottery of 15th- to 18th-century date, suggesting that it had probably fallen out of use and been back-filled during the 18th century. A notable quantity of roof tiles was also recovered suggesting that a nearby building may have been demolished around this time. Several post-holes identified close to the well were of probable post-medieval date, producing 18th- to 20th-century pottery and a fragment of tobacco pipe.
See report (S1) for further details.
The associated archive has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2011.283).
S. Howard (NLA), 18 August 2010. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 31 January 2018 and 16 May 2019.

February 2015. Excavation.
Excavation of site of residential development. The work took place following the demolition of the former Red Cross Hall, with the stripped area extending to the west and the north of the previously excavated trench.

As during the earlier work all of the archaeologically significant remains exposed during this work were of probable medieval or later date. The only evidence for earlier activity on or near the site was two fragments of Roman tile, both of which were residual in a later context.
The only features that could be confidently dated to the medieval period were a series of large probable quarry pits present in the western half of the site. Although a small amount of early medieval pottery was recovered, the other pottery suggests these pits were most likely of late 12th- to 14th-century date. Overall, medieval finds was again scarce, being limited to a small pottery assemblage, a roof tile and a buckle.

The wall foundation observed during the evaluation was found to have been the corner of a fairly substantial building, being joined to a perpendicular east-to-west aligned wall foundation of similar form and size. Only a short section of this second section of foundation survived. The heavily robbed remains of an associated wall were found to comprise a mixed of reused ‘early bricks’ of 13th- to 15th-century and 15th- to 16th-century date. It is therefore likely that this was an early post-medieval structure and therefore potentially contemporary with the nearby Swan Inn, which is a timber-framed building of probable 16th century date (NHER 16065). As during the evaluation it was observed that these structural remains were sealed beneath a probable post-medieval garden soil. In the south-west corner of the site this deposit was truncated by the remains of a second, more recent structure. Elements of this structure exposed in the excavated area included chalk block wall foundations associated with an east-to-west aligned northern wall and a perpendicular internal wall. The chalk floors associated with this structure had been truncated by a number of features including post-holes, a pit and a probable drain run. One of these features produced an iron adze of possible post-medieval date.
See report (S2) for further details.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.293).
P. Watkins (HES), 31 January 2018. Amended 19 May 2019.