NHER 61927 (Monument record) - Post-medieval and undated features

August 2012. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site, following the demolition of 70-72 Sussex Street (a former factory building).
The six trenches excavated revealed a number of archaeologically significant features, most if not all of which were probably post-medieval. The exceptions included a small pit identified at the eastern edge of the site that contained a dump of iron smelting slag and charcoal-rich material. Although no dating evidence was recovered it is notable that the slag was from bloomery smelting and therefore potentially waste from a Late Saxon or medieval industry. Two small undated pits were also identified at the base on an adjacent trench.
A number of post-medieval feature were identified including a ditch and several small pits. A flat-based rectilinear pit may have been a garden feature as there was no evidence to suggest that it had had a structural function.
A trench at the western edge of the site exposed a brick-built cellar that would have presumably been associated with one of the late post-medieval buildings known to have stood on the Oak Street frontage. Brick walls associated with a building of presumably similar date were also observed on the Sussex Street frontage.
Although, inevitably, the construction and demolition of the former factory buildings had resulted in some disturbance this does not appear to have been excessive, with a relatively undisturbed subsoil layer surviving across the site.
The finds recovered during this work were predominantly post-medieval, the only obviously earlier material being a prehistoric worked flint, a medieval brick and a small number of late medieval/transitional pottery sherds.
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 : 2017.159).
P. Watkins (HES), 2 November 2016. Amended 19 May 2019.