NHER 61901 (Monument record) - Medieval to post-medieval features and deposits

January 2014. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of land surrounding the former Pilot Cinema (NHER 60637), prior to the proposed redevelopment of this site.
All four of the trenches excavated revealed archaeological significant remains.
The earliest deposits encountered in the southern trenches were clean flood silts that were present at depths of between 3.62m and 3.85m OD (approximately 2m below the modern ground surface). Silty sand layers identified above these deposits produced medieval pottery and ceramic building material and may represent deliberate attempts at land reclamation during this period. At least one pit of possible medieval date was identified within an overlying sequence of dump deposits, a number of which contained medieval building material.
The flood silts encountered in the northern trenches dropped markedly from north to south, suggesting the presence of a former watercourse. This was most likely the Fisher Fleet, which, from the mid-12th century onwards, had marked the northern edge of the medieval town. The lowest fill of this leat was an organic-rich grey silt, which was overlain by a sequence of dumped deposits that produced medieval finds. These deposits were sealed by a thick sandy silt layer that produced a mix of medieval and post-medieval material and probably represented a deliberate attempt to level the site prior to its development.
An east-to-west aligned wall of uncertain date was exposed in the one of the southern trenches. This partially robbed-out wall was constructed of limestone blocks, carstone and medieval brick and tile fragments and was most likely of post-medieval date. It was probably a property boundary that had been constructed after this land had been reclaimed. A number of early post-medieval pits were present in the vicinity of this wall, one of which produced a relatively large number of medieval roof tiles.
This evaluation also revealed evidence for the glassworks that is known from cartographic and documentary sources to have occupied this site during the 17th century. One of the southern trenches exposed an extremely large pit that was entirely filled with a mixture of crushed ceramic building material and glass-making waste. Other finds recovered from this deposit including pottery and clay pipe fragments that are consistent with a 17th-century date for this phase of activity. Debris similar to that within this pit was also noted towards the top of the deposit sequence in one of the adjacent trenches. A thick layer of glass cullet was also present above the infilled leat in both of the northern trenches. The debris appeared to be predominantly window glass fragments, suggesting it may have been material brought back to the glassworks for recycling.
Evidence for later post-medieval activity on the site included two brick walls of probable 18th- to 19th-century date, one of which was associated with brick and cobble surfaces. One of the wall exposed in the northern trenches also appeared to be associated with some form of cellar.
The bulk of the finds recovered during this work were medieval to post-medieval pottery sherds and ceramic building material fragments. Other notable finds included a piece of architectural stone moulding that may have come from the nearby Augustinian Friary (NHER 1025).
See report (S1) for further details.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.223).
P. Watkins (HES), 31 October 2016. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 19 May 2019.

May-October 2014. Watching Brief.
Only limited additional information was obtained by the monitoring of piling operations, largely due to the fact that no below-ground obstructions were encountered. It was however noted that piles in the south-west corner of the site produced significant amounts of ash and burnt material. Unstratified finds recovered from pile arisings included medieval and post-medieval pottery sherds, glass crucible fragments and post-medieval clay tobacco pipe bowls.
The excavation of two sewer pipe trenches and associated manholes provided a much better opportunity to re-examine the archaeological sequence. The various deposits exposed were broadly consistent with those exposed during the earlier work. In the north-eastern corner of the sites a manhole exposed a sequence of deposits that were probably associated with the Fisher Fleet. A little way to the south a fairly substantial post-medieval brick wall was exposed, which was interpreted as a probable revetting wall for the Fisher Fleet. It should be noted that this interpretation is somewhat at variance with both the deposit sequence recorded and the results of the earlier work (which suggested the southern edge of the Fisher Fleet was probably further south). In the central part of the site the lowest deposit encountered was a grey clay. This was overlain by a pale silt tentatively interpreted as dredgings. As elsewhere on the site the overlying dumps of material contained well-sorted medieval demolition rubble comprising mortar, brick and tile fragments. Within this deposit were the remains of a north-west to south-east aligned wall made from what appeared to be late medieval bricks. It is possible that this wall was associated with a late medieval phase of occupation not identified during the earlier work.
Further evidence for the post-medieval glassworks included a large pit that was filled entirely with glass-working waste and clinker. A layer of black ash, fuel slag and glass waste was also present across much of the area observed. A number of ceramic crucibles were also recovered during this work.
See report (S2) for further details.
The archive associated with this work has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.252).
P. Watkins (HES), 31 October 2016. Amended 19 May 2019.