NHER 68339 (Negative evidence record) - Site where limited groundworks revealed no archaeologically-significant remains

February-July 2015. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of groundworks associated with creation of one-way drop-off area at Bishopgate entrance to Lower School.
The stripping of areas for a new asphalt surface and 'all-weather grass' surface revealed no archaeologically-significant remains, although it should be noted that these excavations were relatively shallow. A rubbly soil containing building material, pottery of 19th/20th-century date and oyster shell was noted in the north-west corner of the site, close to where a group of buildings are shown on the Ordnance Survey 1:500 Town Plan map of 1885 (S1).
As part of these works the entrance itself was widened by approximately 0.8m. This was achieved by removing a 19th-century brickwork jamb/pier from the eastern side of the entrance and a small section of the adjoining medieval precinct wall (NHER 26039). Two holes were then dug immediately to the south of the precinct wall to accommodate the posts for the new, wider gate. One revealed a layer of bricks set in mortar, which presumably related to the building present in late 19th-century.
Holes excavated for new traffic-control bollards immediately south of the gate revealed only post-medieval or modern made-up deposits. Excavations for new play equipment also revealed nothing of archaeological interest.
See report (S2) for further details.
No finds were retained.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2017.549).
P. Watkins (HES), 26 May 2024.