Western Triangle (former Cranfield s Mill garage), Star Lane/College Street, Ipswich IPS 584 (IAS 5804)

Transcription

1 Western Triangle (former Cranfield s Mill garage), Star Lane/College Street, Ipswich IPS 584 (IAS 5804) Archaeological Post-excavation Assessment & Updated Project Design SCCAS Report No. 2013/141 Client: ISG Jackson Ltd Author: Kieron Heard March 2014 Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service

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3 Western Triangle (former Cranfield s Mill garage), Star Lane/College Street, Ipswich Archaeological Post-Excavation Assessment & Updated Project Design SCCAS Report No. 2013/141 Author: Kieron Heard Contributions by: Sue Anderson (pottery, CBM) Anthony Breen (documentary evidence) Julie Curl (animal bone) Richenda Goffin (general finds) Illustrator: Crane Begg Editor: Richenda Goffin Report Date: March 2014

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5 HER Information Report Number: 2013/141 Site Name: Planning Application No: Western Triangle (former Cranfield s Mill garage), Star Lane/College Street, Ipswich IP/04/00313/FUL Date of Fieldwork: 25 June July 2007 Grid Reference: TM Client/Funding Body: Client Reference: Curatorial Officer: Project Officer: Oasis Reference: ISG Jackson Ltd N/A Keith Wade Rhodri Gardner (fieldwork); Kieron Heard (reporting) suffolkc Site Code: IPS 584 (IAS 5804) Digital report submitted to Archaeological Data Service: Disclaimer Any opinions expressed in this report about the need for further archaeological work are those of the Field Projects Team alone. Ultimately the need for further work will be determined by the Local Planning Authority and its Archaeological Advisors when a planning application is registered. Suffolk County Council s archaeological contracting services cannot accept responsibility for inconvenience caused to the clients should the Planning Authority take a different view to that expressed in the report. Prepared By: Kieron Heard Position: Project Officer Date: March 2014 Approved By: Rhodri Gardner Position: Acting Contracts Manager Date: March 2014 Signed:

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7 Contents Summary Drawing Conventions 1. Introduction Site location The scope of this report Circumstances and dates of fieldwork 2 2. Geological, topographic and archaeological background Geology and topography Archaeology 8 3. Original Research Aims Site sequence: preliminary results of the fieldwork Introduction Natural strata Anglo-Saxon (AD ) 14 Middle Anglo-Saxon (AD ) 14 Late Anglo-Saxon (AD ) Medieval (AD ) Post-medieval (AD ) Modern (1900 present) Quantification and assessment Post-excavation review Quantification of the stratigraphic archive Quantification of the finds archive 34 Introduction 34 Pottery 35 Ceramic Building Material (CBM) 40 Fired clay 45 Post-medieval bottle glass 45 Post-medieval window glass 46 Clay tobacco pipe 46

8 Stone 46 Slag, clinker and iron corrosion products 47 The small finds Quantification of the environmental archive Potential of the data Realisation of the Original Research Aims General discussion of potential 51 Potential of the stratigraphic archive 51 Potential of the finds archive and recommendations for further work 51 Potential of the environmental archive Significance of the data Local significance Regional significance Recommendations for further work and publication Acknowledgements Bibliography 57 List of Figures Figure 1. Site location (red), and nearby excavations mentioned in the text (green) 5 Figure 2. Plan locating evaluation trenches, test pits, boreholes and open area excavation 6 Figure 3. Natural topography 13 Figure 4. Plan showing all recorded features and locations of sections 15 Figure 5. Plan of medieval features 23 Figure 6. Plan of post-medieval features 24 Figure 7. Sections 25 Figure 8. Sections (continued) 26 Figure 9. Sections (continued) 27

9 List of Tables Table 1. Pottery fabric dating evidence for medieval dumping/accumulation 16 Table 2. Quantification of the stratigraphic archive 34 Table 3. Bulk finds quantities 35 Table 4. Pottery quantification by fabric 36 Table 5. Pottery types present by feature type. 38 Table 6. Pottery by context/feature with spotdates 39 Table 7. CBM by type and form 41 Table 8. Roofing material by fabric and form 42 Table 9. Walling by fabric and form. 43 Table 10. Flooring by fabric and form 44 List of Plates Plate 1. Southeast-facing section S.10 in Trench 2, showing early medieval dumping/accumulation deposits in lower part of section (c. 0.75m scale) 28 Plate 2. Medieval barrel-lined pit 0116, looking northeast (1m scale) 28 Plate 3. Foundation 0124 for Building 1 (phase 1), looking northwest (2m scale) 29 Plate 4. South-facing section S.8 through foundation 0124 (no scale) 29 Plate 5. Section S.3 showing cellar wall 0029 (Building 1, phase 2), looking west (2m scale) 30 Plate 6. Wall 0045 (left) and foundation (right), looking north (1m scale) 30 Plate 7. Wall/foundation 0120 (Building 1, phase 2), looking south (2m scale) 31 Plate 8. General view of Building 1 (phase 2), looking west (2m scale) 31 Plate 9. Foundation 0017 (Building 2) looking north (2m scale) 32 Plate 10. General view of site looking west, showing Building 2 (left) and Building 3 (right) 32 Plate 11. Cellar wall 0006 (Building 3) looking south (2m scale) 33 Plate 12. Wall 0045, foundation (Building 1) & wall 0006 (Building 3), looking west 33

10 List of Appendices Appendix 1. Brief and specification Appendix 2. Digital image catalogue Appendix 3. Context summary table Appendix 4. Bulk finds catalogue Appendix 5. Pottery catalogue, by context Appendix 6. CBM catalogue, by context Appendix 7. Catalogue of small finds Appendix 8. Animal bone catalogue Appendix 9. Palaeoenvironmental assessment Appendix 10. Documentary research Appendix 11. OASIS form

11 Summary This report presents the results of an archaeological evaluation and subsequent excavation on the Western Triangle site, in Ipswich. It provides a quantification and assessment of the site archive and considers the potential of that archive to answer specific research questions. The significance of the data is assessed at a local and regional level and recommendations are made for the dissemination of the results of the project. The Western Triangle site was located on the west bank of the Wash a former tributary of the Orwell that flowed along what is now Lower Orwell Street. A pit containing Thetford-ware pottery indicated Late Anglo-Saxon occupation immediately to the west of the channel. Layers of alluvium along the edge of the former channel were sealed by land reclamation dumps and deposits of accumulated soil of 13th/14th-century date. These were overlaid by a possible clay floor, suggesting occupation of the recently reclaimed land. A substantial masonry building (Building 1) was constructed over the former channel on deep foundations of rammed earth and gravel, probably in the 14th- or 15th century. The full extent and form of the building are unknown but it probably fronted on College Street/Key Street to the south of the site. Building 1 remained in use until at least the late medieval period when it was modified by the insertion of a half-cellar. Another building (Building 2) on shallower stone foundations was constructed to the west of Building 1. Layers of compacted gravel to the west of those buildings might have been part of a contemporary road or sequence of yard surfaces. In the 17th- or 18th century a brick building (Building 3) with a half-cellar was constructed against the north side of Building 1, presumably fronting on Star Lane to the north of the site.

12 The site archive has been described adequately in this report and no further analysis of the data is recommended. A summary of the results has been published in the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History (2008). This assessment report will be disseminated via the OASIS online archaeological database.

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15 1. Introduction 1.1 Site location The Western Triangle site is located in central Ipswich, within the historic core of the town and close to Ipswich Wet Dock (Fig. 1). It is centred at Ordnance Survey National Grid Reference TM and encompasses an area of approximately 1350m 2. The site is bounded by Key Street to the south, by Star Lane to the north and by St. Mary Quay church to the west. To the east there is a short link road connecting Star Lane and Key Street; this marks the former junction of Lower Orwell Street and Key Street. The site is currently owned by Whitbread plc and is in use as the car park for a nearby Premier Inn. At the time of the archaeological fieldwork the site was owned by Wharfeside Regeneration (Ipswich) Ltd and its last use had been as the Cranfield s Mill garage. 1.2 The scope of this report This report was commissioned by ISG Jackson Ltd., and produced by the Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service (SCCAS), Field Team. It has been prepared in accordance with the relevant Brief and Specification (Wade, 2006). The report is consistent with the principles of Management of Research Projects in the Historic Environment (MORPHE), notably Project Planning Note 3 Archaeological Excavations (English Heritage, 2008). The principal aims of the project are as follows: Summarise the results of the archaeological fieldwork Quantify the site archive and review the post-excavation work that has been undertaken to date Assess the potential of the site archive to answer research aims defined in the Brief and Specification 1

16 Assess the significance of the data in relation to the current regional research framework (Medlycott, 2011) and with reference to previous regional research guidelines (Glazebrook, 1997; Brown & Glazebrook, 2000) Make recommendations for further analysis (if appropriate) and dissemination of the results of the fieldwork 1.3 Circumstances and dates of fieldwork Rhodri Gardner with Kieron Heard The Western Triangle site was part of the large-scale Cranfield s Mill development and was intended for a residential development (later changed to an application for student accommodation). The Western Triangle was mentioned originally in an archaeological Brief and Specification relating to the Cranfield s Mill planning application IP/04/00313/FUL (Wade, 2004). However, as this part of the proposed development did not begin until considerably later a second site-specific brief was produced (Wade, 2006; reproduced in this document as Appendix 1). The proposed residential development would comprise piled structures around the perimeter of the site, with a central courtyard where there was a relatively small threat to the archaeological deposits. Work began on the archaeological evaluation with three trial trenches opened up on 25 June Unusually inclement weather for the time of year meant that the trenches rapidly became completely filled with water shortly after cutting and, as the deposits of interest were very close to the water table, were initially unworkable. It was found subsequently that after pumping the trenches had collapsed badly due to the unconsolidated nature of the overburden. This necessitated re-machining, which delayed hand excavation further. Finally a small team of archaeologists was able to begin work on 06 July Initial concern was for the potential for medieval burials to be found at the western end of the site (associated with the adjacent St. Mary Quay church) and for the Town Ditch to be encountered at the eastern end. However, it was quickly discovered that septaria- 2

17 built walls of likely medieval date had been encountered along with other solid bonded remains. Results from the trial trenching were sufficient to merit a meeting between the monitoring authority and the client s agent Alan Baxter Associates, as the bonded remains merited preservation in situ if possible. This required further work in order to expand the trial trenches sufficiently to determine the date of the walls and establish their extent so that suitable mitigation strategies could be developed. Consequently a mechanical excavator was brought back to site and the excavation area expanded. It had been made clear by the client that budgetary constraints were extremely tight. The purpose of the expansion was therefore limited to exposure of the walls within the threatened area and limited excavation of some associated features so that dating evidence could be gathered. This was achieved by the end of July 2007, with many features left unexcavated in an area of soft archaeology where preservation in situ was also recommended. The excavated area measured 490m 2, or 26% of the total area of the site. Within the areas of excavation modern surfaces, overburden and obstructions were removed using a mechanical excavator and exposed archaeological remains were dug with hand tools. In accordance with the Local Authority Brief most features and deposits were only sample-excavated. The masonry walls/foundations were preserved in situ, and arrangements were made for the appropriate protection and preservation of those remains during subsequent groundwork. A single-context recording system was used, based on a unique sequence of context numbers in the range Most features were planned using a total station theodolite although some plans and selected sections were drawn by hand (at scales of 1:10 or 1:20, as appropriate) on drawing film. Written records (deposit and feature descriptions, etc) were made on pro forma context sheets. A digital photographic record was made, consisting of high-resolution.jpg images. A catalogue of the images is included in this report as Appendix XXX. Sedimentary coring was undertaken in order to carry out a palaeo-environmental assessment of the site (Appendix XXX) 3

18 The primary (paper) archive for both phases of fieldwork is located currently at the SCCAS Bury St Edmunds office. The finds are stored at the SCCAS Bury St Edmunds office (box locations: L/140/5 and L/141/4, evaluation; J/107/3 & 4, L/140/5, L/141/4 and L/143/5, excavation) and the environmental samples are at the SCCAS warehouse in Ipswich. It should be noted that the paper records and finds from the evaluation are archived under the site code IAS 5903 and those from the excavation were given the Historic Environment Record (HER) number IPS

19 Figure 1. Site location (red), and nearby excavations mentioned in the text (green) 5

20 Figure 2. Plan locating evaluation trenches, test pits, boreholes and open area excavation 6

21 2. Geological, topographic and archaeological background 2.1 Geology and topography The superficial geology of the central Ipswich area consists mainly of glacial outwash sands and gravels that have been eroded by the River Gipping/Orwell and overlaid on their lower slopes by undifferentiated river terrace deposits, also of sand and gravel. These Pleistocene deposits (periglacial and fluvial) predominate to the south of a line defined by the main east west route through the town (Carr Street/Tavern Street/Westgate Street) and have been found consistently throughout excavation in the lower two-thirds of the town. On the higher ground, overlooking the valley to the north of Ipswich, the outwash deposits give way to tertiary sands and clays capped with a layer of boulder clay. Tributary streams running off the impermeable clay bands to the north drain southwards across the town towards the River Gipping/Orwell. Some of the main north south streets, such as Brook Street and Lower Orwell Street (known formerly as the Lower Wash ) follow the courses of these streams, although today the water is channelled under ground. The variation in the depth of archaeological deposits across the town suggests that the topography was originally more undulating, with a number of shallow valleys dissecting the glaciofluvial sands and gravels from north to south. It is apparent from excavation and geotechnical records that extensive levelling has occurred, possibly as late as the 16th century, throughout central Ipswich; this is particularly noticeable within the intertidal zone to the south of the former strand line, the position of which is marked approximately by Key Street and College Street. The ground surface within the excavated area was fairly flat at an average height of c. 3.0m OD. 7

22 2.2 Archaeology The Western Triangle site is located within Ipswich s historic core. The town was founded as a trading centre on the north bank of the River Gipping in the late 6th or early 7th century (Early Anglo-Saxon period); at that time it was confined to a few hectares adjacent to the waterfront. During the 8th century (Middle Anglo-Saxon period) the town grew considerably, eventually covering about fifty hectares or roughly the same area as the modern town centre. During the late 9th and early 10th century (Late Anglo-Saxon period) the Danes occupied Ipswich and they were responsible for the construction of the town s first defensive ditch and bank. On the eastern side of the town the ditch incorporated a natural watercourse (a north south tributary of the Gipping/Orwell) that flowed along the line of what is now Lower Orwell Street, immediately to the east of the Western Triangle site. The site was therefore within the defended area of the town. During the same period, occupation extended into areas beyond the town s defences, notably to the east of the town along Fore Street and down towards a probable waterfront in the area of Neptune Marina. Evidence for early urban development was found in 1979 on a site adjacent to the Western Triangle (Foundation Street, IAS 5801; Fig. 1). It included Middle to Late Anglo-Saxon pits and the foundation trenches for part of a Late Anglo-Saxon building. The archaeological background to the Western Triangle site was reviewed last in 2003 (Loader & Breen, 2003). That report highlighted a number of key research themes in relation to the site, notably topography/drainage and the origins of modern Key Street/College Street; both of these subjects remain poorly understood. Since 2003 several major excavations have taken place in this part of Ipswich in response to the threat to the archaeological resource posed by the regeneration of the waterfront. The results of those excavations are yet to be published and post-excavation analysis of the results has not yet been undertaken for many of the sites. The provisional results are summarised below, and the sites are located on Figure 1. 8

23 IPS 446 (IAS 6405) Cranfield s Mill (2003 6) A sequence of alluvial deposits included a peat layer (0.5m thick) that produced Roman finds of late 1st- to 2nd-century date. A series of in situ hurdles running for at least 30m along the water s edge at a level of 0.5m to 0.8m AOD are thought to have represented Middle or Late Anglo-Saxon revetments. They provide important evidence for the position of the Anglo-Saxon waterfront and for contemporary water levels. Following land reclamation a large, well-constructed cellared building was erected close to the waterfront; it was probably a merchant s house dating to the late 15th century. The walls were made of septaria blocks with moulded limestone around the door and window openings. The building was 6m wide and extended for 20m back towards the medieval quayside from the College Street frontage. It survived, with various modifications, until the second half of the 19th century. IPS 469 (IAS 6406) Albion Wharf (2005 7) A trial trench evaluation was followed by open-area excavations, but only the results of the evaluation phase are available and these relate mainly to the use of the site in the late medieval period. They included a fragment of a late medieval or early postmedieval septaria-built wall and the remains of a possible cobbled surface of 13th to 14th-century date. In the eastern part of the site a substantial wooden structure was recorded in unexpectedly deep alluvial deposits. This has been interpreted as a probable late medieval pier or jetty-type structure within a previously unknown inlet that extended as far north as modern Key Street. An earlier peat deposit (0.75m thick) was recorded also, but could not be dated. IPS 605 (IAS 5903) Eastern Triangle (2008/11) A trial trench evaluation and subsequent excavation was carried out on the former Cranfield s Mill lorry park. The site was located immediately east of the tributary stream beneath Lower Orwell Street, and was therefore just outside the Anglo-Saxon / early medieval town defences. Although small amounts of residual prehistoric, Roman and earlier Anglo-Saxon material were found it is clear that there was no significant activity on the site until the 9

24 Late Anglo-Saxon period when several large pits were dug and at least one human burial took place in what was probably a small, informal cemetery. During the 12th 13th century sequences of clay-and-timber buildings were constructed in the southern part of the site, providing some evidence for the origins of Key Street. The presence of hammerscale and small amounts of slag suggest that iron working was carried out in at least one of the buildings. In the late medieval period two substantial masonry buildings were constructed on the Key Street frontage, at either end of the site. The cellars of these buildings survived particularly well, having remained in use until the late 19th- or early 20th century, and the archaeological evidence indicates that both buildings had complex histories of modification and refurbishment. The building at the west end of the site was known from the early 17th century as the Gun Inn (or Gunstone) and its ownership can be traced to at least the late 16th century. It was a substantial structure measuring approximately 18.5m long x 7m wide, with septaria walls up to 0.60m thick. The other building was smaller and, from photographic evidence, is thought to have been a domestic dwelling; given its waterfront location it was probably a merchant s house. During the post-medieval period the remainder of the Key Street frontage was developed intensively, while areas to the rear of those buildings were retained as yards and gardens where quarries, cesspits and wells were dug. Many of these cut features have been dated to the Tudor period and have produced significant finds assemblages that include imported Dutch pottery and building materials; these support documentary evidence for a significant Dutch presence in Ipswich from at least the 15th century. IPS 639 (IAS 5908) Student Village (2011) A trial trench evaluation and subsequent excavation provided rare evidence for prehistoric occupation in the Ipswich area, as shown by a pit containing Neolithic earlier Bronze Age worked flints and a ditch containing pottery of a similar date. There was little evidence for the use of the site in the Roman period, which was in accordance with the results from other excavations in this part of Ipswich. Anglo-Saxon occupation was represented mainly by intensive pitting in the northern part of the site, probably relating to properties fronting onto Fore Street, to the east. 10

25 During the medieval period much of the site was used as a cemetery, which is thought to have been that of the lost church or chapel of Ostirbolt; that building might have stood somewhere on the Student Village site. The cemetery had been identified originally in 1981, during the excavation of William Brown s timber yard (IPS 369 / IAS 5901), which had been carried out in advance of the construction of Slade Street to the west of the site (Loader, no date). Other significant evidence for medieval activity included dumping for land reclamation along the southern edge of the site, in what must have previously been the inter-tidal zone of the river, and the subsequent construction of a waterfront building, represented by a flint and septaria foundation. The cellars of at least two Tudor buildings (one of which has been identified from early maps as a malt house) were found along the southern frontage of the site, representing the intensive development of Key Street by merchants in the early post-medieval period. 3. Original Research Aims The Original Research Aims (academic objectives) for the evaluation were defined in the relevant Brief and Specification (Wade 2006, 3) as follows: Establish whether the burial ground of St Mary Quay Church extended eastward into the application area. Establish the depth, nature and density of archaeological deposits across the site. Locate and record sections through the medieval town bank and earlier Late Saxon town ditch. Establish the density and depth of medieval building foundations which will require removal prior to development. 11

26 4. Site sequence: preliminary results of the fieldwork 4.1 Introduction The following summary of the results of the fieldwork is based on a low level of interpretation of the site data. The basic stratigraphic unit used to identify individual deposits or features was the context number and these have been retained for this report, appearing thus: Preliminary analysis of stratigraphic and physical relationships has allowed some of the more important contexts to be assigned to groups (Building 1, for example) and artefact dating has been used to place those groups within broad chronological periods. A comprehensive list of contexts with descriptions and provisional interpretations is included as Appendix 2. All archaeological features are shown in plan on Figure 4, and provisional phase plans appear as Figures 5 and 6. Sections drawings are on Figures Natural strata River terrace gravels Although natural strata were not observed widely due to the restricted depth of excavations, river terrace gravels were seen at a few locations and were recorded also during sedimentary coring for the palaeo-environmental assessment (Appendix 9). These deposits of yellowish brown or orangey brown sands and gravels were recorded at a maximum height of +2.18m OD in Trench 3 (0081; Fig. 8, section S.15) and a minimum height of approximately +0.50m OD in Core 5, within the area of open excavation. In Core 7 similar deposits were not recorded, but by inference must have been at or below 0.29m OD. These limited observations are sufficient to show that within the site there was a downward slope from northwest to southeast. By combining this information with the results of other excavations and data from borehole logs it has been possible to produce a provisional contour map of the natural topography of the site, as shown on Figure 3. 12

27 Figure 3. Natural topography 13

28 Alluvial strata The river terrace gravels were overlaid in the eastern part of the site by a sequence of greyish brown sands with varying gravel content, interpreted as alluvial strata of relatively recent origin within the former channel known of the Wash. These deposits were observed in section in Trench 2 (Fig. 7, sections S.4 & S.7, 0028; Fig. 8, section S.1, 0028; Fig. 7, section S.7, 0088) at a maximum height of approximately +1.7m OD. They were recorded also in Cores 6 and 7 and an average maximum height of approximately +1.5m OD; in Core 6 the alluvial strata were at least 1.2m thick and in Core 7 they were at least 1.7m thick. 4.3 Anglo-Saxon (AD ) Middle Anglo-Saxon (AD ) Only six sherds of Ipswich Ware were recovered, all residual in later deposits. No stratigraphic evidence for this period was recorded, although this was probably due to depth restrictions that did not allow the comprehensive excavation of earlier deposits. Late Anglo-Saxon (AD ) Only a small assemblage of Late Anglo-Saxon pottery was recovered, again because of the limited depth of excavations. The pottery consisted of thirty-two sherds (1707g) of Thetford-type ware (10th 11th centuries) and one sherd (17g) of St Neot s Ware ( ). Most of this material was residual in medieval and later deposits, and only one feature is thought to have been of Late Anglo-Saxon date: Pit 0093 Pit 0093 was observed but not excavated or recorded during machine excavation, about 5m from the north end of Trench 1. The pit was probably rectangular, cutting the natural gravel at a height of approximately 1.6m OD, and measured approximately 2.5m x 1.0m. Ten sherds (1467g) of Thetford-type ware were recovered from the machined surface of the pit. 14

29 Figure 4. Plan showing all recorded features and locations of sections 15

30 4.4 Medieval (AD ) Earlier medieval dumping/accumulation Earlier medieval activity was represented mainly by layers of external dumping/accumulation in the lower lying, south-eastern part of the site. Some of these deposits produced only Anglo-Saxon pottery, although this was probably residual. These soil deposits were seen throughout Trenches 1 and 2 but were generally machine-excavated and recorded in section only (for example, Fig. 8, section S.10, ; Pl. 1). Descriptions of the deposits vary (see Appendix 3) but they were mainly grey/brown sandy silts with pebbles and small amounts of pottery, CBM, animal bone and other material. Some localised deposits of compacted gravel, such as 0085 (Fig. 7, section S.7) might represent parts of external surfaces or roads/tracks. Table 1 summarises the dating evidence from those deposits (all in Trench 2) that produced earlier medieval pottery: it suggests that this dumping/accumulation continued until the 13th/14th century. The cumulative effect of this activity was to raise ground level across the site to an average height of approximately 2.25m OD. Context Sections No Wt/g Fabric date range 0011 S.2, S th 11th c 0019 S th 11th c 0020 S th 11th c 0024 S th 11th c 1 14 L.10th 11th c th 13th c 0030 S th 13th c 2 18 L.12th 14th c 0034 S.5, S th 11th c 1 7 L.12th 14th c 0035 S th 11th c th 12th c? 0110 n/a th 11th c 1 19 L.13th E.14th c 1 23 L.12th 14th c 1 3 medieval Table 1. Pottery fabric dating evidence for medieval dumping/accumulation 16

31 Possible clay and timber structure A thin (50mm) layer of firm, light yellowish brown clay (0022) recorded on top of the medieval dumps in Trench 2 (at approximately 2m OD), as seen on sections S.1 (Fig. 8), S.4 and S.7 (Fig. 7) might have been the floor of an early medieval clay and timber structure. Similar deposits were recorded extensively on the nearby Eastern Triangle site (IPS 605; Heard, 2012). Building 1 (phase 1) A substantial medieval building in the central and southern part of the excavated area was represented mainly by its truncated foundations, which cut earlier medieval dumping/accumulation deposits (Fig. 5). Only the northwest part of the building was seen, the rest having been removed or obscured by later activity. Building 1 measured at least 11m northeast southwest x 8m northwest southeast. Its west wall had a pronounced change of alignment and its foundation was considerably deeper to the south of that point; the significance of this is not clear although it does suggest that the southern part of the building might have been taller. Foundation trench 0124 (Fig. 8, section S.8; Pls. 3 & 4), in the southern part of the building, was dug through earlier dumped deposits to the surface of the underlying natural gravel; it measured 1.08m wide x 1.30m deep. To the north, L-shaped foundation trench 0039 (also recorded as 0048) was shallower at c. 0.55m and (although mostly truncated) was probably about m wide. The maximum surviving height of the foundations was 2.40m OD, which gives a rough indication of the contemporary ground level. The foundations were all constructed of thin (c mm) alternating layers of compacted clayey soil and sand/gravel ( ; ; 0125/0126). There were discontinuous layers of rough-hewn septaria blocks (0127) up to 0.30m wide, in the base of the trenches. An upper fill of soil (0049) at the northwest corner of foundation trench 0039 produced a sherd of pottery dated 12th 14th century. Only localised areas of walling survived above the foundations and it is not entirely clear whether these were original or associated with a subsequent phase of construction. The best preserved section of masonry (0115; Pl. 3) was on the west side of the building, 17

32 obscuring the junction between foundation trenches 0124 and This section of wall was 2.7m long x 0.85m wide x 0.40m high and constructed of large septaria blocks (up to 0.40m) bonded with a light yellow sandy mortar. The stone was fairly well dressed on both wall faces. Building 1 (phase 2) A subsequent phase of construction in the late medieval period probably represented a remodelling of Building 1 rather than an entirely new building. A stone wall/footing (0029/0045; Fig. 5; Pls. 5 & 6) was built in a construction cut that removed part of the inside edge of the northern part of the foundations of Building 1. The masonry was approximately 0.30m wide and up to 0.65m deep (to 1.60m OD), and was constructed principally of septaria blocks (up to 0.45m across) with occasional small flint nodules. These materials were randomly laid and heavily bonded with a soft, light yellowish brown sandy mortar with flint inclusions (Fig. 7, section S.3; Fig. 8, section S.9). The septaria blocks were dressed on the wall face. The surviving wall was L-shaped, measuring 5.2m SW NE and approximately 6.6m NW SE. A truncated stub of projecting masonry at the SE end of wall 0045 suggested that there was a return wall at this point, making three sides of a room. The fourth wall of this room was formed by wall/foundation 0120 (Fig. 5; Pl. 7). This was built against the face of wall 0029 (not obviously bonded to it) but was probably part of the same general phase of construction. Dressed septaria blocks up to 0.25m across were used on the wall faces, with smaller rough hewn blocks in the core. These were bonded with light yellowish brown sandy mortar with moderate flint and chalk inclusions. The wall was 6.15m long x 0.60m wide, stepping out to 0.80m at the base. The full depth of the masonry was not seen, but it was at least 0.45m deep. Some white-fired Dutch bricks (probably 17th/18th century) seen at the west end of 0120 were presumably associated with a post-medieval repair or modification of the wall. Similar bricks were used to re-face medieval wall 0115, at the point where it was abutted by

33 Walls 0029/0045 and 0120 formed a sub-square room about 5m wide (Pl. 8) that presumably had a sunken floor that was no more than 0.80m below the contemporary ground surface. No evidence for this floor was seen. A layer of silty sand, crushed mortar and CBM fragments (0094) recorded in section S.10 (Fig. 8) at approximately 2.20m OD might have been debris from the demolition of Building 2. It produced a range of medieval and late medieval/post-medieval roof tile fragments and a Flemish floor tile dated to the 14th 15th century. Building 2 Another building was located to the west of Building 1 but was represented only by part of a trench-built foundation with a short return at its east end (0017; Fig. 5; Pl. 9). It was built mainly of small fragments of septaria (generally up to 0.12m wide) with some flint nodules (3:1), heavily bonded with light yellowish brown sandy mortar with flint and chalk inclusions. The foundation measured >4.5m long x 0.70m wide x at least 1m deep. It is unclear when Building 2 went out of use, but it was partially truncated by a possible robber trench 0031, the fill of which (0032) contained medieval pottery and CBM but also some post-medieval roof tile fragments. Possible road or yard In Trench 1 the earlier medieval dumping/accumulation deposits ( , 0078) were sealed by extensive, interleaving layers of compacted gravel 0077, about 0.35m thick and with a maximum surviving height of 2.5m OD (Fig. 9, section S.11). This was probably a road or sequence of external surfaces, and might have been contemporary with Buildings 1 and 2. Pit 0116 A medieval pit 0116 with a barrel lining 0117 was located in the north-western part of the site at a maximum surviving height of 1.8m OD (Fig. 5; Pl. 2). It was circular with vertical sides and a flat base, measuring 1.15m in diameter and with a surviving depth of 0.75m, being dug to the surface of the natural gravel. The pit was lined with a wooden cask (probably Baltic pine) constructed with thirty-three staves bound with two hoops of flexible split rods. The cask elements were retained but have not been subject to detailed analysis. The base of the cask had been removed, leading to a provisional interpretation that this was a well; on further consideration this is thought unlikely since 19

34 the pit was not deep enough to reach the water table. It is more likely to have been a cess pit or soak-away. The primary fill of the cask (0119) was a thin (50mm) deposit of silty sand devoid of finds. The backfill 0118 contained 101 sherds (1904g) of medieval pottery (mostly dated late 13th early 14th century) including seventy-one from a single jug and representing thirteen vessels. A small fragment of post-medieval brick is assumed to have been intrusive, particularly as the pit was truncated slightly by post-medieval pit Post-medieval (AD ) Building 3 Building 3 (Fig. 6; Pls. 10 & 11) was constructed against the north side of Building 1. It had an asymmetrical footprint, with an obtuse-angled corner to the SE, and measured approximately 9.4m x 5.5m. Only the base of its walls and a cellar floor survived. The west (0097) and north (0098) walls were of similar construction; they were built of whitefired Dutch bricks bonded with soft, off-white sandy mortar. The bricks were probably of 17th/18th-century date. The west and north walls were up to 0.38m wide and survived to a maximum height of 0.50m. The south wall 0006 was narrower at only 0.16m being little more than a skin wall built against the foundation of Building 1; it was clearly not load-bearing. However, it was built with similar materials to the west and north walls and was apparently part of the same phase of construction. The east wall of the cellar was rebuilt on at least one occasion. The northern half of this wall (0008) was up to 0.45m thick and brick-built, principally with yellowish white bricks similar to the Dutch bricks used in the other walls, but with occasional red bricks, all bonded with very hard, off-white lime mortar. The southern half of the wall (0007) was of a different construction, having a very mixed fabric of mostly fragmentary red and yellow bricks with some flint and septaria fragments, all bonded heavily with hard off-white lime mortar was only 0.33m thick. An opening in the northeast corner of the cellar led into a small asymmetrical chamber (0099) with a curving wall that appeared to have been an addition to the original cellar. Two sample bricks are probably of late medieval date, suggesting the re-use of building 20

35 materials. The chamber was not well preserved and its function was not clear although it was possibly part of an external stairwell providing access to the cellar. The cellar floor 0100 was built mainly of red gault clay floor bricks of 18th/19th-century date. The bricks were laid on bed in regular rows, on a bedding layer of yellow sand. The floor was at a height of approximately 1.85m OD, which was similar to the floor levels of post-medieval cellars (the Gun Inn and the Merchant s House ) at the nearby Eastern Triangle site (IPS 605; Heard 2012). However, since the floor was only about 1.2m below current street level this was presumably a half-cellar. Limited excavation of unspecified deposits (0101) below the floor produced a range of post-medieval pottery that included a bowl of late 17th late 18th-century date. Post-medieval pits Numerous post-medieval pits (Fig. 6) were seen in the area to the west of Building 3 but only three of these were excavated, as a representative sample. Pit 0102 Sub-rectangular pit with slightly rounded corners, measuring 3.15m long x 1.32m wide x 0.65m deep. The pit had near-vertical sides breaking sharply into a flat base and was timber lined, although the lining was very decayed and was not recorded in detail (Fig. 8, section S.12). The presence of the lining indicates that the pit was intended for prolonged use, probably with an industrial function. The pit contained a sequence of four fills (see Appendix 3 for details) of which only one (0105) contained any finds; these included sixteen fragments (531g) of pottery dated to the 16th 18th centuries, some CBM, animal bone and industrial slag. Pit 0108 This pit was adjacent to pit It was sub-rectangular with poorly defined corners, measuring 2.00m long x 1.05m wide x 0.5m deep and with steeply sloping sides and a fairly flat base (Fig. 8, section S.13). It contained a single fill 0109 that produced nine fragments (240g) of pottery that included Anglo-Saxon, medieval and post-medieval wares. Other finds included small amounts of CBM, mortar/plaster, animal bone and shell. 21

36 Pit 0111 Pit 0111 was circular with a diameter of 1.25m and surviving depth of 0.6m, with smooth nearly vertical sides breaking sharply into a flattish base (Fig. 8, section S.14). It was not obviously lined. The pit contained a sequence of three fills (see Appendix 3 for details) of which one (0112) produced a small, mixed assemblage of medieval and post-medieval pottery. Other finds consisted of small quantities of CBM, window glass and animal bone. The function of the pit is unknown. Garden soil 0036/0083 Thick deposits of homogenous, loamy soil (up to 0.80m) recorded in sections in Trench 2 (Fig. 7, section S.4 [0036] & section S.7 [0083]) suggest that an open area to the east of Building 3 was used as a garden or allotment in the post-medieval period. Well or soak-away 0090 A circular, brick-lined well or soak-away 0090, close to the southeast corner of Building 3 (Fig. 6) was poorly constructed using a mixture of whole and half bats that included at least two bricks dated to the 18th/19th century. It was backfilled with much demolition rubble and domestic refuse (0089). 4.8 Modern (1900 present) Modern deposits were not recorded archaeologically but were represented generally by thick deposits of overburden/building debris derived from the demolition of 19th/20thcentury buildings (for example, 0079, Fig. 8, section S.15). 22

37 Figure 5. Plan of medieval features 23

38 Figure 6. Plan of post-medieval features 24

39 Figure 7. Sections 25

40 Figure 8. Sections (continued) 26

41 Figure 9. Sections (continued) 27

42 Plate 1. Southeast-facing section S.10 in Trench 2, showing early medieval dumping/accumulation deposits in lower part of section (c. 0.75m scale) Plate 2. Medieval barrel-lined pit 0116, looking northeast (1m scale) 28

43 Plate 3. Foundation 0124 for Building 1 (phase 1), looking northwest (2m scale) Plate 4. South-facing section S.8 through foundation 0124 (no scale) 29

44 Plate 5. Section S.3 showing cellar wall 0029 (Building 1, phase 2), looking west (2m scale) Plate 6. Wall 0045 (left) and foundation (right), looking north (1m scale) 30

45 Plate 7. Wall/foundation 0120 (Building 1, phase 2), looking south (2m scale) Plate 8. General view of Building 1 (phase 2), looking west (2m scale) 31

46 Plate 9. Foundation 0017 (Building 2) looking north (2m scale) Plate 10. General view of site looking west, showing Building 2 (left) and Building 3 (right) 32

47 Plate 11. Cellar wall 0006 (Building 3) looking south (2m scale) Plate 12. Wall 0045, foundation (Building 1) & wall 0006 (Building 3), looking west 33

48 5. Quantification and assessment 5.1 Post-excavation review The following post-excavation tasks have been completed: Task 01: Completion and checking of the primary (paper and digital) archive Task 02: Microsoft Access database of the stratigraphic archive Task 03: Microsoft Access database of the finds archive Task 04: Catalogue and archiving of images Task 05: Scanning (security copy) of plans and sections Task 06: Plans and sections digitised and integrated with TST survey data Task 07: Processing, dating and assessment of finds 5.2 Quantification of the stratigraphic archive The stratigraphic archive is quantified in Table 2. Type Quantity Format Context register sheets 3 A4 paper Context sheets (numbered , excluding ) 123 A4 paper Section register 1 A4 paper Plan register 1 A4 paper Environmental sample register 1 A4 paper Environmental sample sheets 5 A4 paper Plan/section drawing sheets 3 A1/A2 drawing film Stratigraphic matrices 6 A4 Digital images (HVN , HVO ) 124 High-resolution JPGs Assessment report (SCCAS report no. 2013/141) 1 A4 wire-bound Table 2. Quantification of the stratigraphic archive 5.3 Quantification of the finds archive Richenda Goffin Introduction A comprehensive bulk finds catalogue is included as Appendix 4, and the bulk finds are quantified in Table 3: 34

49 Finds Type No Wt (g) Pottery CBM Fired clay 2 16 Clay tobacco pipe 1 3 Post-medieval bottle glass Post-medieval window glass 1 1 Slag/clinker Stone 1 1 Animal bone Shell Table 3. Bulk finds quantities Pottery Sue Anderson Introduction A total of 229 sherds of pottery weighing 7.078kg was collected from twenty-three contexts. Table 4 shows the quantification by fabric; a summary catalogue by context is included as Appendix 5. Methodology Quantification was carried out using sherd count, weight and estimated vessel equivalent (eve). The minimum number of vessels (MNV) within each context was also recorded, but cross-fitting was not attempted unless particularly distinctive vessels were observed in more than one context. A full quantification by fabric, context and feature is available in the site archive. All fabric codes were assigned from the author s post- Roman fabric series, which includes East Anglian and Midlands fabrics, as well as imported wares. Thetford-type ware fabrics are based on Dallas (1984), and forms on Anderson (2004). Form terminology for medieval pottery is based on MPRG (1998). Imports were identified based on Jennings Norwich work (Jennings, 1981). Recording uses a system of letters for fabric codes together with number codes for ease of sorting in database format. The results were input directly into a Microsoft Access database. 35

50 Description Fabric Code No Wt/g Eve MNV Gritty Ipswich Ware GIPS Sandy Ipswich Ware SIPS Total Middle Saxon Thetford-type ware THET St. Neot's Ware STNE Total Late Saxon Yarmouth-type ware YAR Yarmouth-type non-calcareous YARN Early medieval sparse shelly ware EMWSS Total early medieval Medieval coarseware MCW Hollesley-type coarseware HOLL Medieval shelly wares MSHW Unprovenanced glazed UPG Ipswich Glazed Ware IPSG Hollesley Glazed Ware HOLG Yorkshire glazed wares YORK Flemish greyware FLGW Saintonge SAIN Normandy Gritty Ware NORM Total medieval Late medieval and transitional LMT Cistercian type Ware CTW Surrey Whiteware transitional SWWT Raeran/Aachen Stoneware GSW Dutch-type redwares DUTR Spanish tin-glazed ware STGE Total late medieval Glazed red earthenware GRE Border Wares BORD Metropolitan Slipware METS Cologne/Frechen Stoneware GSW Post-medieval import PMIM Westerwald Stoneware GSW Total post-medieval English Stoneware Nottingham-type ESWN Total modern Unidentified UNID Totals Table 4. Pottery quantification by fabric Pottery by period Middle Saxon Only six sherds of Ipswich Ware were recovered. Apart from one sherd from construction fill 0092, all pottery of this type was found in association with later pottery. Two rims are present, one from a jar (type D) and one from bowl (type E). One sherd is burnished, but there are no decorated or girth-grooved sherds. Late Saxon The majority of the small Late Saxon group is Thetford-type ware (32 sherds, 1707g) with just one sherd (17g) of St Neot s Ware. Only two rims are present, a medium AB jar with type 4 rim and a bowl with a beaded rim. Ten sherds of the body and base of a 36

51 large storage vessel, possibly an AG jar, with applied thumbed strips were recovered from feature Two body sherds are girth-grooved. Early medieval The early medieval group is very small in this assemblage, only three sherds being present. Local calcareous-tempered fabrics (YAR, EMWSS) predominate, with none of the medium sandy fabric (EMW) typical of northern and western parts of East Anglia being represented. A Yarmouth-type sandy ware jar with upright thickened rim is the only identifiable form. Medieval The high medieval group makes up over half of the assemblage. Only fourteen of the group by sherd count comprises coarsewares of local manufacture, and there is also one imported greyware. The majority of coarsewares are of unknown provenance and include fine and medium sandy fabrics (MCW) with varying degrees of mica and occasional coarse quartz or ferrous inclusions. Other sherds were identified from east Suffolk (HOLL) and there was one shelly ware which may be from south Suffolk. Four coarseware rims are present, representing three jars and a jug. Two jars and the jug in MCW have developed rims (13th 14th c.), whilst the third jar in shelly ware has an upright beaded rim of 12th/13th-century date. The large group of glazed wares includes some locally produced vessels in Hollesley and Ipswich fabrics, and material from Yorkshire and France. The unprovenanced glazed wares included sherds that may be locally or regionally manufactured (or possibly later medieval). Most of the glazed sherds were probably parts of jugs, but rims and handles from only eight jugs out of a minimum of twenty-four vessels were present. The large quantity of Saintonge Ware present was due to a total of seventy-one sherds of a single large jug in This pegau jug was globular with a parrot-beak spout and three handles. Based on MNV, Saintonge vessels were as frequent in this assemblage as the locally produced glazed wares from Ipswich itself. Late medieval Fifteen sherds of ten vessels were late medieval wares. English wares comprised base fragments of two East Anglian LMT vessels, a Cistercian-type mug, four sherds of a Cistercian-type skillet with a pan handle, a small piece of Tudor Green Surrey whiteware, base fragments of a Raeren stoneware jug, Dutch redwares including a 37