Humphrey, R. (2010). An Archaeological Evaluation at St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Saffron Walden, Essex CB10 1BQ. Brockley: Pre-Construct Archaeology Limited. https://doi.org/10.5284/1021653. Cite this using datacite

Title
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Title:		 An Archaeological Evaluation at St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Saffron Walden, Essex CB10 1BQ
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Series:		 Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd (London) unpublished report series
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preconst1-83302_1.pdf (2 MB) : Download
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DOI
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DOI
https://doi.org/10.5284/1021653
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Publication Type:		 Report (in Series)
Abstract
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Abstract:		 work was commissioned by Wilby and Burnett as part of the planning application for the construction of a new pre-school building. Two trenches positioned in a cross formation across the footprint of the proposed structure were investigated. Previous archaeological investigations in the area have identified what has been interpreted as the outer bailey or town-ditch that relates to the 12th century castle within which the medieval town was initially established (Ennis 2005). These were to the southwest of the study site detailed in this report. The projected course of the town ditch from these previous investigations suggest it would have extended to the south of the new pre-school structure on an approximate east to west alignment. Natural occurring chalk bedrock was observed in a deeper test sondage excavated at the southern end of the southeast to northwest aligned evaluation trench. A possible cut feature was seen made through this chalk horizon. This was seen on the southwest-facing side of the deeper test sondage and potentially represents a northeast to southwest aligned incision. Two different fills of this incision were observed although dating evidence was not retrieved from either. Sealing the fills of this possible cut were multiple horizons of late post-medieval to modern ground raising layers. These were observed to contain modern ceramic building material and metal inclusions. It is probable that these deposits relate to the widespread landscaping of the site in the 1960s when St Mary's Primary School was extended and the playing fields raised in height. In light of the apparent extensive mechanised landscaping of the site in the mid-twentieth century and the absence of dating evidence seen from within the fills of the incision made through the chalk bedrock, it is not possible to say with any degree of certainty that the cut feature represents the medieval town-ditch.
Author
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Author:		 R Humphrey
Publisher
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Publisher:		 Pre-Construct Archaeology Limited
Other Person/Org
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Other Person/Org:		 Historic England (OASIS Reviewer)
Essex County Council Historic Environment Records (OASIS Reviewer)
Year of Publication
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Year of Publication:		 2010
Locations
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Locations:
Site: St Mary's Church of England Primary School
Parish: SAFFRON WALDEN
District: Uttlesford
County: Essex
Country: England
Grid Reference: 553850, 238800 (Easting, Northing)
Subjects / Periods
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Subjects / Periods:
UNCERTAIN (Historic England Periods) NONE (Find)
UNCERTAIN (Historic England Periods) NONE (Monus)
Medieval (Auto Detected Temporal)
Late Postmedieval To Modern (Auto Detected Temporal)
12th Century (Auto Detected Temporal)
TRIAL TRENCH (Event)
Identifiers
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OASIS Id: preconst1-83302
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Created Date
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Created Date:		 25 Nov 2016