NHER 58186 (Monument record) - Late Saxon, medieval and post-medieval remains at 144-162 King Street

October 2005. Desk-based Assessment
Assessment of proposed development site.
See report (S1) for further information.
P. Watkins (HES), 19 October 2012

May 2012. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site of proposed residential development.
There was clear evidence for significant truncation of the site during recent construction and demolition, with natural deposits lying directly beneath 0.2m of modern overburden. Surviving archaeologically significant remains were however identified, although only within the two trenches located in the central part of the site. The earliest feature identified found during this phase of work was a possible foundation trench of Late Saxon or early medieval date. A number of substantial medieval pits were also identified, the majority of which appeared to be of 10th- to 12th- century date. A robbed out flint wall found near the street frontage was possible of medieval date, although the associated robber trench contained much post-medieval material. Other post-medieval features included a brick-lined well and a number of pits, several of which were of probable 17th century date. A number of undated pits were also investigated.
See interim report (S2) for further information. Finalised report awaited.
The results of this work are also summarised in (S4).
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2012.129).
P. Watkins (HES), 19 October 2012. Amended 23 June 2020.

July-August 2012. Strip Map and Sample Excavation.
This work revealed evidence for relatively early activity, with several features identified that could be firmly dated as Late Saxon, including the remains of a cellared building. Although truncated and disturbed by modern activity much of the ground plan of this structure survived, along with evidence for timber post settings and some form of revetment. It is possible that a number of nearby post holes were the remains of a similar, but much more truncated structure. Several substantial, steep-sided Late Saxon pits were also found. Further medieval pits were also identified, at least two of which contained tips of ash and charcoal-rich material and may have had some form of industrial function. The similarity of the Late Saxon pits to several of the medieval examples (coupled with the generally early date of the latter) suggests at least a degree of continuity of activity between the two periods. A feature of both the Late Saxon and the medieval pits on this site was the presence of much later material in their uppermost fills, representing much later attempts to level the site. Post-medieval features included the remains of several brick cellars, one of which (in the northernmost part of the site) truncated an earlier chalk-built cellar. Several post-medieval pits and two further wells were also investigated during this phase of work. Apart from a small number of residual struck flints and two sherds of possible Middle Saxon pottery all of the finds recovered during this work were of Late Saxon or later date.
Although a human skeleton is recorded as having been found at this site (NHER 72), no further burials were identified. There also appears to have been no trace of the other features discovered near the burial (such as a square well). Either these were entirely destroyed around the time they were observed or the location of these discoveries is inaccurate.
See assessment report (S3) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S4).
Publication report awaited.
The associated archive has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.158).
P. Watkins (HES), 19 October 2012.