NHER 55468 (Monument record) - Medieval and post-medieval features and finds

January 2011. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site.
The two trenches excavated revealed an 18th century or later pit, a double ditch from an earlier phase and two undated chalk, flint and mortar wells. Three undated pits containing burnt clay could be associated with medieval industry. Finds from the site include 18th, 19th and 20th century pottery and ceramic building material, a piece of 18th century clay pipe, 18th to 19th century floor tile, 19th century glass and fragments of animal bone and oyster shell.
See report (S1) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S2).
The associated archive has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2011.49).
S. Howard (HES), 20 April 2011. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 12 May 2019.

December 2012. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of groundworks for construction of a new building recorded three possible extraction pits. Two pits located at the western edges of the investigated area have been dated to the medieval period and were likely dug to extract chalk and flint. One of these pits contained a sherd of early medieval handmade pottery (late 11th to 13th century). The third feature extended across the entire eastern portion of the building footings and has been identified as a chalk quarry pit of possible late 19th or early 20th century date. This quarry pit contained a complete ink bottle bearing the inscription ‘Stafford’s Ink, made in USA’ in the upper portion of its fill.
The large quarry pit was previously observed in trench 1 of the 2011 evaluation and it has been suggested that the two pits and double ditch observed in the evaluation trench were likely also part of this large feature. The features recorded in evaluation trench 2 (pits containing burnt clay) may also be related the medieval quarry pits identified during the watching brief. This group of medieval features could be associated with the construction of a large flint and mortar structure, possibly the Bailey Gate and town walls (NHER 3449). It has also been suggested that the western portion of this area was part of a separate burgage plot of medieval origin.
See report (S3) for further information.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2013.2).
H. Hamilton (HES), 30 July 2013. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 16 May 2019.