NHER 780 (Monument record) - Site of graveyard of St Margaret Fyebridgegate, Nos 130 and 132 Magdalen Street

22 January 1987 - 22 May 1987.
Excavation of an area 40m x 22m on the site of the graveyard of St Margaret in Combusto (first reference AD 1254, redundant by 1468). Medieval finds:
431 articulated skeletons, many in 'irregular positions' i.e. In groups with some members prone and/or facing west, five mortar lined graves, one chalk-lined. Two large pits containing haphazardly interred burials. Very few infants.
600 disarticulated and semi-articulated skeletons. The site of the church was located but no in situ remains survive.
Several pieces of dressed limestone from the original church were located in a cellar wall at street frontage.
Post medieval finds: A large oval pit 4m x 1.42 at least 0.9m deep (not fully excavated) packed with a large amount of broken, unused roof tile. Foundation of earlier structure below the junction of walls of the Blind Institute.
One brick, and one flint and brick well.
Compiled by J. E. Bown (NAU) February 1989.
The finds from this excavation have been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 1995.52).

1987.
Found on excavation site after levelling.
1 Middle/Late Saxon copper alloy disc brooch. 9th century, backward turning animal.
See letter (S1), drawing (S2) and NCM polaroid.
S. Margeson (NCM), 27 January 1988.

(This is almost identical to the entry under site NHER 148 but with a different find date and finder.)

See (S1) for further details.