NHER 66393 (Monument record) - Post-medieval and late post-medieval/modern remains

January 2022. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of site of proposed extension to existing building.
The two trenches excavated revealed several features of post-medieval or later date. The most notable of these was what appeared to be a substantial north-to-south aligned ditch. The age of this feature was indicated a dump of material close to its base, which contained a group of clay tobacco pipe bowls dating to between 1640 and 1660, along with a pottery assemblage of probable 17th-century date. Other finds from the fills of this feature included additional post-medieval pottery sherds, undiagnostic brick and tile fragments (broadly dated as medieval to post-medieval), a scale tang knife with bone handle, unidentified iron objects, a fragment of window glass and animal bone. A broadly similar mix of material was recovered from an overlying made ground deposit. Both this layer and the uppermost fill of the ditch also contained fragments of 19th-/20th-century pottery.
Two pits were recorded, both of which also produced pottery 19th-/20th-century date, along with a range of other finds including post-medieval pottery, a glazed floor tile, pantiles, a possible antler cutlery handle, animal bone and oyster shells.
Samples taken from primary fill of the possible ditch and one of the pits were both dominated by coal and other fuel debris.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 20 October 2022.