| Title: |
Hexham Swimming Pool Site, Gilesgate, Hexham, Northumberland. Archaeological Mitigation by Strip, Map & Record |
| Series: |
The Archaeological Practice unpublished report series
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| Downloads: |
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thearcha2-516419_212204.pdf (11 MB)
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| Biblio Note |
This report was uploaded to the OASIS system by the named Publisher. The report has been transferred into the ADS Library for public access and to facilitate future research.
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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: |
Three principal phases of archaeological work were conducted at the site: • Phase 1 (14th August 2020) – comprised recording an inscribed lintel revealed on the inner (north) face of the Swimming pool frontage. • Phase 2 (26th August-3rd Sept. 2020) – comprised excavations principally in the north-west part of the site • Phase 3 (12-29th January 2021) – comprised excavations principally in the central-west part of the site All work was carried out in compliance with the codes of practice of the Chartered Institute of Field Archaeologists (CIFA) and followed the CIFA Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Excavations. Ground reduction was conducted across the entire development site by mechanical excavator using a toothless ditching bucket. All excavations were closely monitored by suitably trained and experienced archaeologists from The Archaeological Practice Ltd. The aims of the archaeological work were to identify and determine the character of any remains uncovered during groundworks on the site, and to make an appropriate record of such finds by photographic and other means. An archaeological mitigation exercise by means of ‘strip, map and record’ was carried out in two main phases prior to, and during development works at the former Hexham Swimming Pool site between August 2020 and February 2021. The main features uncovered during the mitigation works, all of which were along the western boundary of the site, were associated with a row of dwellings seen on early editions of the Ordnance Survey map series and thought to be of relatively recent, early 19th century or slightly earlier origin. While it is possible that these were built partly or wholly upon earlier dwellings or other structures, no conclusive evidence for this was uncovered. The only earlier structure uncovered was a late medieval kiln, the presence of which suggests that the area to the rear of Gilesgate had probably been an open backplot in the later medieval period; this function perhaps extending into the early modern period. Other than a few fragments of abraded green-glazed pottery, no finds were made in the area of excavation to suggest that it was a significant focus of activity - whether domestic or agricultural - prior to the 18th century, with the great majority of finds suggesting activity in the later 19th and 20th centuries. It is possible that most remains of earlier activity were removed by significant landscaping works prior to or during major 20th century remodeling of the site. With respect to the kiln found underlying 19th or early 20th century building remains in the central part of the site, at the northern end of a fairly flat terrace extending from GIlesgate, its likely function on the basis of palaeo-environmental evidence is as a corn-drying kiln or malting kiln, although heterogenous remains from the upper fills of the kiln bowl have a composition possibly reflecting use of the kiln for drying other crops and the presence of domestic waste from other sources, including a mixture of fuel waste and crops accidentally charred during drying. The presence of germinated grains suggests that the corn-dryer had, either principally or alternatively, functioned as a malting oven; a suggestion given further weight by the presence of a mix of grains often associated with brewing, a staple of medieval diets. |
| Author: |
Marc Johnstone
Richard J Carlton
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| Publisher: |
Archaeological Practice Ltd
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| Other Person/Org: |
Northumberland HER (OASIS Reviewer)
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| Year of Publication: |
2022
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| Locations: |
| Parish: |
Hexham |
| District: |
Northumberland |
| Country: |
England |
| County: |
Northumberland |
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Grid Reference: 393458, 564286 (Easting, Northing)
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| Subjects / Periods: |
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| Identifiers: |
| OASIS Id: |
thearcha2-516419 |
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| Source: |
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| Created Date: |
12 Feb 2024 |
