NHER 1217 (Monument record) - Site of medieval hall, medieval and post medieval finds, rear of 21 High Street

1963-1970 (at some time). Systematic observation and recovery from stanchion holes and sill trenches.
To the rear (east) of the site was a layer of thick organic silty loam 3 feet to 5 feet deep, on the surface of which were fragmentary remains of wattle fences. These were sealed beneath a layer of silt, on which on which a further series of wattle fences had been built. Organic silt loams up to 2 feet deep had accumulated around these fences before they were abandoned and covered with a deliberate deposit of silt 6inches deep which was deposited before the next phase of activity on the site. This deliberate deposition of silt was associated with the digging of foundation trenches on which stone ground sills had been raised. These defined the south and west boundaries of the site and the rear ranges of two buildings. Except for the south gable wall nothing of the front ranges was seen, but the plan suggests a double hall arrangement similar to that seen at Chapel Street (NHER 12005) and 21-23 Broad Street.
Pottery from the upper levels included Grimston cooking pots, Grimston and Yorkshire jugs, Nottingham-type cooking pots and SW French jugs. Normal range of Period II pottery including Grimston jugs ((S1) fig. 89, nos. 1, 3, fig. 91, nos. 6, 20, fig. 92, nos. 8, 12), an unattributed jug (fig. 98, no. 21), Rouen-type jugs, a sherd of a Grimston curfew. Below the silt were Grimston Thetford-type bowls, Stamford-type ware, Shelly ware (fig. 93, no. 9) and sherds of at least five blue-grey ladles. Little post-medieval pottery was recovered except from one pit to the rear of the site.
See (S1) for further information.
E. Rose (NAU0, amended by A. Cattermole (King's Lynn UAD), 6 March 2019.