NHER 65546 (Monument record) - Potentially medieval wall and post-medieval cemetery and other remains

August 2013. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site.
Natural sand and gravel deposits were exposed in both of the two trenches excavated, being encountered at a depth of between 6.95m and 7.63m OD. In both cases these deposits were overlain by probable agricultural soils that contained little in the way of cultural material.
In the trench excavated parallel to the southern edge of the site the soil layer was found to be cut by two graves containing human remains and wood fragments that potentially represented the remains of coffins. These extended burials were aligned east-to-west and therefore presumably Christian, although their exact date couldn’t be established. It is possible that they were associated with the medieval leper hospital that is believed to have lain nearby (NHER 629), although an examination of the disarticulated bones removed from the site revealed no evidence for this disease. It is also noted that the fills of the graves contained inclusions such as coal that are indicative of a post-medieval date. It is therefore more likely that these burials were associated with either the workhouse infirmary established in the former lazar house during the 18th century (also recorded under NHER 629) or the Borough Psychiatric Hospital constructed immediately to the south of this site from 1828 onwards (NHER 48966).
There was little clear evidence for activity on the site prior to the post-medieval period. Although small quantities of Middle Saxon, Late Saxon, early medieval and late medieval pottery were recovered this material was all either unstratified or residual in obviously later contexts. At least some of these objects were probably deposited as a result of agricultural activities such as manuring with night soil.
The graves were sealed by a widespread layer that contained post-medieval clay tobacco pipe and fragments of disarticulated human bone.
The only other features recorded were all of probable post-medieval or later date, including pits and soakaways. One pit at the north-eastern corner produced pottery of probable late 17th- to 18th-century date, along with other material likely to represent domestic waste – potentially derived from the nearby workhouse infirmary. This feature also produced a brick of possible 16th-century date and fragments of what were potentially medieval Flemish floor tiles.
Various deposits likely to represent relatively recent dumps of material and demolition debris were also recorded.
See report (S1) for further details.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.201).
P. Watkins (HES), 30 March 2022.

February 2014. Excavation.
This final phase of archaeological mitigation was undertaken prior to the construction of new residential dwellings on the site. Two areas were excavated where the development would have the greatest impact on any surviving remains.
As during the earlier work, evidence for activity on the site prior to the post-medieval period was limited and largely restricted to residual and unstatified finds. These included a number of prehistoric worked flints (of which two are probably Early Neolithic in date) and small quantities of Late Saxon, medieval and late medieval pottery. The one early feature of considerable interest was an east-to-west aligned flint and mortar wall at the southern edge of the site. This wall or wall foundation was potentially associated with the medieval hospital of St Mary and St Clement (NHER 629). Interestingly, a later brick wall had been built directly off this foundation. This wall probably represented the north wall of the first building associated with the Borough Psychiatric Hospital (NHER 48966). This had been built in 1828 and can be seen at this location on the Millard and Manning map of 1830 (S2). It is therefore possible that an earlier building had been demolished at this time, possibly one that had been used by the workhouse infirmary that occupied the site from the early 18th century.
The small cemetery identified by the earlier trial trenching lay immediately to the north of these wall footings, with a total of six burials exposed and fully lifted during this phase of work. It appeared that the western, northern and eastern limits of this small cemetery had been established. Contrary to the suggestion made during the trial trenching, there was no definite evidence for coffins and it appeared that the bodies had probably been buried in shrouds. Adult males and females of varying age were present, along with a child of unknown sex and a young adult female. Four of the individuals display evidence for developmental abnormalities and two may have suffered from rickets. There was also evidence that the adults had suffered from physical stress, most noticeably in their spines. As discussed above it is unlikely that these burials were associated with the medieval hospital, particularly as there is documentary evidence that its deceased patients were buried in the churchyard of St Clement’s Church (NHER 557). The age range of the individuals buried suggests that the cemetery was probably associated with the Borough Psychiatric Hospital, as it appears the earlier workhouse infirmary had been primarily for elderly paupers (see NHER 629).
The other features exposed were all of probable post-medieval or later date. These included two ditches and various pits. The latter included a feature that produced a small assemblage of late 17th- to 18th-century pottery, more than 90 fragments of clay pipe and a range of other post-medieval objects. As with the feature of similar date recorded during the earlier work this may well have been a rubbish pit associated with the workhouse infirmary.
See assessment report (S3) for further details. Final reports awaited.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.228). It is planned that the human remains will be reinterred in a municipal cemetery.
P. Watkins (HES), 30 March 2022.