Powell, N. (2001). 71 and 73 High Street and 47 North Street, Guildford, Surrey. Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment. Reading: Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd.

Title:

71 and 73 High Street and 47 North Street, Guildford, Surrey. Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment

Number of Pages:

Biblio Note

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Publication Type:

Report

Abstract:

An archaeological desk-based assessment was undertaken in advance of the proposed redevelopment of the site. The site lay within the historic core of Guildford, which was designated an area of high archaeological potential in the borough local plan. There had been many archaeological investigations, comprising watching briefs and full excavations, which clearly indicated that the High Street was an important component of the medieval town. The site occupied one or two burgage plots, which reflected the medieval pattern of long but narrow properties aligned at right angles to the street frontage even if the exact boundaries would have been subject to change over time. 12th century pottery had been recovered from various sites within the town but the pottery was predominantly 13th and 14th century in date. Number 71 and 73 High Street lay close to the junction of the High Street and Quarry Street. The latter was though to lie within the focus of the earlier, later Saxon settlement and it was possible that this late Saxon settlement extended north to include the proposal area, although investigations nearby had not revealed Saxon finds or deposits. North Street was the northern town ditch until the late 16th or early 17th century and, therefore, this part of the site was within the rear areas of properties fronting the High Street. The rear of a medieval building was the focus of activity, such as light industry, as well as a place to dump household rubbish and dig wells, latrines and cesspits, which provide important sources for archaeological study. The structure occupying 71 High Street dated from the mid-18th century, and that occupying number 73 dated from the late 17th century. These were Listed Buildings and would be incorporated into the new development proposal. The rear of the site (North Street end), would be subject to demolition and may be levelled prior to redevelopment. The date of the cellared areas on the High Street frontage was unknown but, if they belonged to the same period as the structures overhead, their construction was likely to have removed or severely truncated earlier deposits. Elsewhere on the site, the watching brief carried out during the digging of the trial pits to examine the current buildings foundations had not revealed further evidence for extensive truncation of the original ground. It was probable that medieval and earlier deposits, if present, had survived, albeit inevitably disturbed to some extent by continuous development and use of the property up to the present day. Pottery from one of the trial holes could be dated to the late medieval/early post-medieval period, directly pointing to activity of this period on the site. It was recommended that the site be subject to a field evaluation, targeted towards the rear (northern) part of the site as the front of the site occupied by the Listed Buildings and cellars was to remain unaltered. [Au(adp)]

Author:

Nicola Powell

Publisher:

Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd

Year of Publication:

2001

Locations:

Location - Auto Detected:	High Street
Location - Auto Detected:	North Street
Location - Auto Detected:	Guildford
Location - Auto Detected:	Quarry Street
Location - Auto Detected:	North Street Guildford Surrey

Subjects / Periods:

14th Century (Auto Detected Temporal)
EARLY MEDIEVAL (Historic England Periods)
Medieval (Auto Detected Temporal)
13th (Auto Detected Temporal)
Late 16th (Auto Detected Temporal)
Early 17th Century (Auto Detected Temporal)
12th Century (Auto Detected Temporal)
Late 17th Century (Auto Detected Temporal)

Note:

Date Of Issue From: 2001 Date Of Coverage From: 01 Date Of Coverage To: 01 Editorial Expansion: Site name: 71 AND 73 HIGH STREET AND 47 NORTH STREET, GUILDFORD
Study area: 0.1033ha
Investigation type: Desk-based
District: Guildford
Monument: BUILDING. Post-medieval (1540-1901)
Ngr: SU99604949
Parish:
Postcode: GU1 3AE

Source:

BIAB (Archaeological Investigations Project (AIP))

Created Date:

19 Jan 2009