Title: |
20-22 Silver Street, Bedford: Archaeological Observation, Investigation, Recording, Analysis and Publication |
Series: |
Albion Archaeology unpublished report series
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Downloads: |
albionar1-129602_1.pdf (2 MB)
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Download
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Licence Type: |
ADS Terms of Use and Access
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DOI |
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Publication Type: |
Report (in Series)
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Abstract: |
Archaeological works were undertaken in accordance with the programme of the groundworks contractor. Works inside the standing buildings, which had potential to expose archaeological deposits, were monitored, revealing traces of backfilled cellars under the existing floors. To the rear of the property the existing outbuildings were demolished and the ground level was then reduced, before a series of wall footings were excavated. The investigation revealed evidence for a complex series of events. The stratigraphically earliest, though undated, features were located towards the rear of the site, comprising a pit and a posthole. These predated an extensive cultivation soil which contained post-medieval finds and appeared to be garden plots in the interior of the block rather than ploughed land, based on the thickness of the material. This was truncated by a series of steep-sided features interpreted as the robbed walls defining elements of the footprint of a substantial stone building, which did not respect the present property boundaries. In the south-eastern area of the site the floor of a clay tobacco pipe kiln was exposed. The wares of several local pipe-makers were recovered; the forms indicate a mid-late 19th-century date. This feature was only revealed at the formation level of construction work, limiting the scope of investigation, and it has been preserved in situ beneath a geotextile membrane. A rectangular feature further west may have been associated with the kiln. The investigation has provided evidence of sequential use of the site from at least the post-medieval period. This survived in the area beyond the main standing buildings. However, both the impact of the development on the buried archaeological deposits and the scope of the investigation were limited. |
Author: |
G Edmondson
R Gregson
S Utrata
J Wells
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Publisher: |
Albion Archaeology
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Other Person/Org: |
Historic England (OASIS Reviewer)
Bedford Borough HER (OASIS Reviewer)
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Year of Publication: |
2013
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Locations: |
Site: |
20 - 22 Silver Street, Bedford |
Parish: |
BEDFORD |
District: |
Bedford |
County: |
Bedfordshire |
Country: |
England |
Grid Reference: 504970, 249820 (Easting, Northing)
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Subjects / Periods: |
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Identifiers: |
OASIS Id: |
albionar1-129602 |
OBIB: |
2012-117 |
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Note: |
Comb bound A4 client report
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Source: |
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Relations: |
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Created Date: |
25 Nov 2016 |