Title: |
An archaeological investigation by trial trenching at Grace Dieu Priory Pond, Belton, Leicestershire (SK 434 182) |
Series: |
University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS) unpublished report series
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Downloads: |
universi1-189248_1.pdf (1 MB)
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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: |
An archaeological investigation by trial trenching was carried out at Grace Dieu Priory Pond, Belton, Leicestershire (SK 434 182) by University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS) between 14-22 July, 2014. Work was undertaken for the Friends of Grace Dieu Priory prior to planned repairs to a medieval fish pond and associated works connected with the installation of a spillway at a second location in order to regulate water levels. Scheduled Monument consent was granted for the excavation of 40 square meters of the pond's northern retaining bank (case no. S00086043). This was excavated as four 5m x 2m trenches placed to answer specific questions about two suspected historic outfalls believed to discharge beyond the pond bank into two ditches to the north. Excavations identified a complex sequence of development inside the pond bank with a possible medieval core built up into the present earthwork in the post-medieval period. Inside the pond, deposits of freshwater mussels covering the pond lining may be the remains of medieval mussel beds whilst a possible medieval building was tentatively identified buried beneath the north edge of the earthwork. Overall, the pond bank appeared largely intact and in good condition and water loss from the pond was apparently occuring beneath the bank, not through an old culvert as previously suspected, but by exploiting sand and gravel beds beneath the pond and weaknesses in the internal structure of the pond bank, notably the unbonded foundation of a wall which is now acting as a new spring. |
Author: |
Mathew G R Morris
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Publisher: |
University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS)
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Other Person/Org: |
Historic England (OASIS Reviewer)
Leicestershire HER (OASIS Reviewer)
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Year of Publication: |
2014
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Locations: |
Site: |
Grace Dieu Priory |
County: |
Leicestershire |
District: |
North West Leicestershire |
Parish: |
BELTON |
Country: |
England |
Grid Reference: 443400, 318200 (Easting, Northing)
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Subjects / Periods: |
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Identifiers: |
OASIS Id: |
universi1-189248 |
OBIB: |
ULAS Report no. 2014-155 |
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Source: |
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Relations: |
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Created Date: |
01 Feb 2018 |