NHER 66009 (Monument record) - Late medieval/early post-medieval and late post-medieval remains

November 2016. Trial Trenching.
Evaluation of proposed development site.
The two trenches excavated revealed several pits of probable late medieval/early post-medieval date and three undated possible post-holes.
Although a small amount of Late Saxon and early medieval pottery was recovered the stratified sherds were all from contexts that also produced later material. This was also the case with the small number of high medieval sherds found.
A total of four pits were recorded, three of which produced finds that suggested a probable 15th- to 16th-century date. This material included pottery sherds, 'early brick' fragments of probable 15th-century date and late medieval/early post-medieval roof tile fragments. The largest of these features was most likely a sand extraction pit, while the smaller examples were probably dug for refuse disposal.
Three sub-circular, shallow features potentially represented truncated post-holes but none produced any dating evidence.
Unstratified finds included additional Late Saxon and medieval pottery sherds and the single post-medieval sherd recovered.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 30 March 2025.

December 2020-January 2021. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of groundworks associated with construction of residential development.
The foundation trenches and service trenches excavated revealed two large probable sand extraction pits of later 19th-century date. These both contained a range of late post-medieval finds, including pottery sherds, bottle glass and clay pipe stems. A north-to-south aligned brick wall foundation observed at the eastern edge of the site was probably of a similar age. This was potentially the remnants of a garden wall or part of an outbuilding associated with the extant properties fronting onto Fairland Street.
Information from draft report. Final version awaited.
P. Watkins (HES), 30 March