NHER 68961 (Monument record) - Potentially Late Saxon or medieval clay-built structure, medieval pit and undated ditches

September 2018. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site.
The nine trenches excavated revealed a number of ditches, a large pit and at least one clay-built structure.
The clay-built structure was encountered in the northernmost part of the site and displayed evidence for in-situ burning or heating. Although it was left unexcavated at this stage, its form suggested it potentially represented a kiln or oven. A single Late Saxon pottery sherd was recovered from the surface of the structure during cleaning. Another patch of clay partially exposed within the same trench potentially represented the remains of a second clay-built structure, although this showed no obvious signs of heat reddening.
A large possible extraction pit was encountered in the north-east part of the site, which produced a small assemblage of medieval pottery suggestive of a 14th- to 15th-century date, along with a small amount of residual Late Saxon pottery. A thick layer of redeposited chalk was present towards the top of this feature.
The ditches uncovered were all aligned roughly north-to-south or east-to-west. No dating evidence was recovered from these features, although a medieval or earlier date would seem likely, given the general absence of later material.
The small assemblage of unstratified finds recovered comprises Late Saxon, medieval and medieval/post-medieval pottery sherds; fragments of lava quern; a pierced oyster shell of possible Late Saxon or medieval date; a medieval coin and a number of other, medieval, post-medieval and undated metal objects. These metal finds include undated copper alloy sheet fragments and a lead pot mend; a medieval buckle, strap end, casket key, mount, copper alloy ewer spout, copper alloy vessel leg and lead weight and a post-medieval coin or button and lead musket balls.
See report (S1) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 28 March 2025.