Post-Medieval Archaeol 9

TQ 450316. Two blast furnaces produced iron in early 18th century: one was casting guns, the other pig-iron, and there was also a boring mill with its carriage in place on the tracks. The making of cannon is described, and results of tree-ring analyses are reported together with descriptions of the pottery, gun-mould fragments, glass, metal objects, ores and slags.

Deals with a group of industrial structures including a pitch house, saw pits, part of the double dock, surgeon's house, clock house, mould loft and plank-bending kiln. The date is 17th to 18th century. Finds include ironwork, pottery, clay pipes, and mica windows in zinc-coated iron frames.

TQ 174748. Rescue excavations revealed a revetment wall, part of a large moat and other details dating to first half of 17th century. Glass, pottery and bones are reported.

Limited excavation within the disused 17th-century church confirmed evidence of the 1635 Extent Roll that the site had been occupied by stone houses of 2-3 storeys. Two underground sewers were unexpected finds, but earlier occupation traces had been swept away.

[TQ 922184]. The low round guntower (1512-14) was strengthened c 1539 by a chemise wall from which passages ran to stirrup-shaped towers at the cardinal points, linked by angled curtain walls into an octagonal trace. Excavation of the E 'bastion' showed that the stirrup had been fronted by a long vaulted crosswing with 4 round buttresses at the ends and middle, demolished c 1543 when U-shaped 'bastions' were built in front of the stirrups and the curtain wall thickened. D F R