NHER 58188 (Monument record) - Post-medieval pit, former site of Sussex House, Sussex Street

March 2012. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site.
Natural deposits were reached in all four trenches, sealed by what appeared to be a relict soil or subsoil. This relatively sterile agricultural soil was overlain by deep soils and makeup deposits of late post-medieval and modern date. A small pit that produced sherds of post-medieval pottery was the only feature of archaeological significance to be identified. The small number of finds recovered from unstratified contexts included a single struck flint, four sherds of post-medieval pottery and a clay pipe fragment.
See report (S1) for further details.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.551).
P. Watkins (HES), 18 October 2012. Amended 27 May 2019.

September 2012. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of groundworks following the demolition of Sussex House.
The excavation of a sewage pipe trench demonstrated that the natural geological deposits were now overlain by a thick layer of mixed modern overburden. This material had probably been dumped following the demolition of Sussex House, suggesting that this work had significantly truncated the deposits that were previously present. The presence of rubble deposits in the base of the trench at its eastern end probably indicated the position of a cellar associated with Sussex House.
No further monitoring took place as it was clear subsequent groundworks would not penetrate beneath the modern demolition debris.
No finds were recovered.
See report (S2) for further details.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.171).
P. Watkins (HES), 1 November 2016.